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Lalu concerned over rising crude prices

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Saturday expressed concern over the spiralling crude prices in the international market. “It is a very grim situation. Whatever we are earning, most of it is going towards the purchase of crude oil. Strong international oil lobby is making things difficult for developing economies like ours,” Mr. Prasad told reporters here.

The Minister said that it would be difficult to contain inflation if crude prices continued to rise.

The silver lining was that India has buffer grain stock, and post-monsoon, the situation on the price front might ease. India was self-sufficient on the food front, thanks to the farmers, he added.

Though Mr. Prasad did not answer questions on “special supplementary charge” to be levied on some freight items from July 1, it seems that the Railways had now started feeling the pinch of higher diesel prices announced recently by the Centre.

Mr. Prasad had assured that the Railways would not hike its passenger fares and freight charges and absorb the entire burden of increased fuel prices.

However, the Ministry has now decided to levy a “special supplementary charge” on some freight commodities from July 1 for three months.

Talking about the coming general election, Mr. Prasad said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was gearing up to face the polls.

“We are ready for elections. We have been preparing for it,” he said.

Taking a dig at senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani, who is National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s prime ministerial candidate, Mr. Prasad said: “It seems that Mr. Advani was too anxious to become Prime Minister. He has even started his poll campaign. Only the time will tell who will emerge victorious.”

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