The Hindu : National : Congress conclave ignored vital issues: BJP

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Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006
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Congress conclave ignored vital issues: BJP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday demanded that the prices of petrol and diesel be brought down as prices of crude oil in the international market had come down from $ 77 a barrel to around $ 60.

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar criticised the recently concluded conclave of Congress Chief Ministers in Nainital for ignoring the increasing prices of essential commodities and the hike of prices of petroleum products. When the Government had revised the price of petrol and diesel upwards, it had argued that it was forced to do so because of the sharp increase in the international crude oil price. Now that crude prices had fallen, the Government should revise the prices downward, he said.

The party also pointed out that people could be protected against the impact of changing international crude oil prices if the Government levied duties on the basis of every barrel of crude imported rather than a percentage of the price of imported crude.

The party criticised the conclave for paying "only lip service" to the farming community's distress. "The conclave apparently discussed the issue for 11 hours and I can say that during that time 11 farmers in Vidarbha alone committed suicide. The farmers were from Buldhana, Akola, Washim and Yavatmal," Mr. Javadekar said.

Relief from indebtedness alone could help farmers and keep them away from suicide, he said. For this farmers need to be assured of a support price that could meet the rising cost of inputs.

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