The Hindu : Front Page : SP demands rollback of fuel price hike

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Sunday, Jun 26, 2011
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SP demands rollback of fuel price hike

K. Balchand

People, workers questioning SP support to government
Party to get in touch with Left, democratic forces on issue

NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday said it was compelled to extend outside support to the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for the sake of stability, notwithstanding its “anti-people policies particularly the recent fuel price hike.”

SP spokesperson Mohan Singh said the party was torn between the cries of the masses and the need to support the government but wanted the Centre to reverse its decision hiking prices of kerosene, diesel and LPG.

Mr. Singh said the people and workers were questioning the logic of support to a government which was “insensitive to the miseries of the people and did not even consult its allies before taking such measures.”

He said the workers were at a disadvantage in explaining to the people the party's stand when the spate of decisions taken by the Union government had mostly hit the common people.

Apart from demanding the rollback of fuel prices, the SP leader warned the government against taking “anti-people decisions” if it sought to remain in office.

The SP said it would get in touch with the Left and democratic and progressive forces and evolve a strategy to compel the government to annul its decision and, if need be, launch a movement for the purpose.

As for the July 3 all-party meeting on the Lokpal Bill, Mr. Singh said the party was undecided on its participation underscoring that the government had neither responded to its letters on the issue nor consulted it before constituting the joint drafting committee.

Mr. Singh said the Prime Minister should clarify whether he still intended to place himself under the ambit of the Lokpal as stated earlier in the light of the opposition to his inclusion by the government representatives on the Lokpal panel.

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