The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unwarranted hike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 06, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unwarranted hike

It is unfortunate that the UPA government has been forced, as claimed by it, to hike the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas. One shudders to think of the plight of the middle classes and the poor, for whom life has become a fight against odds. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh explaining the price rise to the nation and appealing to the people to conserve energy made sad viewing. It was his policy of liberalisation and globalisation that resulted in a growing economy and an increase in the number of the wealthy. Can he now persuade them to reduce fuel consumption?

It is the same old story. I feel ashamed to be part of a growing India, which advocated the principle loka samastha sukhino bhavantu (may all living beings in the world be happy) when it had nothing but today, with all its prosperity, is unable to spare a thought for its poor.

Divakar Pai,

Thrissur

The rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders will make the situation worse for the common man, who is already reeling under the effect of high inflation. Alas, the wise economist Prime Minister could not save the common man from the financial imbroglio.

A.S.L. Narasimha Rao,

Khammam

One cannot but be anguished over the government’s distorted priorities and the least concern for the common man. The people are not concerned about the global prices of crude or the mechanics of commerce.

They have a right to expect their government to give them their basic needs at affordable prices. The cascading effect of the oil price hike will surely make people’s lives miserable.

K. Raghunadha Rao,

Hyderabad

The government has finally taken the inevitable step, without considering whether the people can absorb such a hefty price rise. While both the middle class users of two wheelers and the affluent class that uses fuel guzzlers will have to pay more, the hike will not make much of a difference to the rich, the government officials, and VIPs. Would it not have been better to spare the middle class from the burden?

Rajendra Nath Pathak,

Jaipur

It has become a habit for ruling parties to blame the international market and increase the prices of fuel. Even now, the UPA government has chosen to back the oil manufacturing companies, not the people who elected it to power. It did not even consider the prevailing inflationary trend and the spiralling prices of commodities. The hike in fuel prices and its effect on other goods will surely ruin the lives of the people. I hope the government will roll back the prices.

J.V.L.N. Murthy,

Vijayawada

Justifying the hike in fuel prices, the Prime Minister has said that it is not possible to insulate the consumer forever from the impact of rising import costs. Do MPs, MLAs and government officials come under the category of consumers? If the government is serious about meeting the fuel costs, it should stop all official air travel. Transport allowance paid to government employees must be made taxable, so that less fuel is purchased.

K. Srinivasa Raghavan,

Chennai

The abrupt, steep rise in the price of cooking gas cylinder is deplorable. It will disrupt the budget of many middle class families, which are already bearing the brunt of price rise.

P. Jyothiradityan,

Kollengode

The hike, though unavoidable, is grossly unjustified. The government should have taken three things into consideration before effecting the hike. Was it possible to use the huge statutory, capital and other accumulated profits of oil companies to set off the losses and sustain the price level for some more time? Could the Centre and the State governments not have absorbed the shock by reducing duties and octroi? Was it not possible to ask oil companies to cut their expenses by reducing their monstrous overhead costs?

Mohd Abdul Gaffar,

Hyderabad

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Banks and muscle power

Undercutting the Taliban

Indian Muslims and their linkages

Genuine American hero vs. man of destiny

Breeding intolerance will delay development

In Balochistan, democracy remobilises nationalists

Corrections and clarifications

Unwarranted hike

Politics of oil

Tackling shortage