The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : CPI will push for withdrawal of fuel price hike: Raja

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Sunday, Feb 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

CPI will push for withdrawal of fuel price hike: Raja

Special Correspondent

“Centre has failed to examine alternative options”

Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

D. Raja. —

TIRUCHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) would urge the Union government to withdraw the hike in the prices of petroleum products by raising the issue in Parliament, party national secretary D. Raja said here on Friday.

“We will fight against the decision both inside and outside Parliament. The hike in petroleum products and the Centre’s failure to check prices of essential commodities will be among the major issues to be raised. Our future course of action will be based on the government’s response,” Mr. Raja told reporters.

The hike in prices of petroleum products could have been avoided if the Centre had heeded the suggestions of the Left parties, he said.

“We had suggested a reduction in the Excise and Customs duty as taxes formed an important component of the price of petroleum products. We had also suggested that the Centre create a Price Stabilisation Fund. But the Centre has failed to examine the alternative options available,” Mr. Raja said.

Answering a query, he admitted that the confrontation between the Centre and the Left parties would intensify if the government failed to change its economic policies.

“Give agriculture its due”

Mr. Raja demanded that the Centre accord priority to agriculture in its coming budget, taking into account the suggestions put forward by the Left parties in a note submitted to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister recently.

The sector was facing a crisis and the government should reduce the interest rate on farm loans to four per cent.

A Farmers Debt Relief Commission should be set up to relieve the farmers’ debt burden. Allocations for education and public health sectors and the welfare schemes for minorities should be increased substantially.

He expressed concern over the Centre’s silence on the recent reports stating that the Sri Lankan Navy had planted sea mines along the Indo-Sri Lankan maritime boundary. The move was highly dangerous and it was against international convention.

“The Indian government should ask Sri Lanka to remove the mines. If Sri Lanka fails to respond positively, we should take steps to remove the mines by ourselves,” he said.

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