NEW DELHI:
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has opposed the Government's decision to reduce customs duty on steel, cement and metals on the pretext of curbing inflation. The decision would only help the import lobby at the cost of the indigenous industry, it said.
The Government should immediately reduce the excise duty on petrol and diesel as recommended by a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas after the last Budget, a statement issued by CITU Secretary Dipankar Mukherjee said here on Saturday.
As energy contributed to high inflation rates, the Government should immediately assure people that inflation control was high on its agenda, the statement said.
The CITU also took exception to the Union Finance Minister's comment that "we have to learn to live with some inflation." It wanted the Finance Minister to understand that such a remark was bound to fuel "inflationary expectations." This would encourage hoarders and profiteers already resorting to future trading in essential commodities, the statement said.
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