Date:03/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/03/stories/2008090352271300.htm

National

CPI wants cut in fuel prices

Special Correspondent

Cites decline in global market

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India on Tuesday sought to know why oil marketing companies were not reducing prices of petrol and diesel as prices in international markets came down considerably.

“If the prices of aviation fuel can be reduced, fuel prices also can be reduced proportionally. If the international market prices were taken as a pretext to increase the prices of fuel earlier, their reduction should make the Petroleum Ministry take needy steps to give relief to the people” party Central Secretariat said in a release.

Expresses surprise

It also expressed surprise that in spite of the reduction of aviation fuel prices by 16 per cent by oil marketing companies, airline companies were reluctant to reduce airfares on the pretext that they were incurring losses for the last few years. Stating the move was unfair, the party said reduction of fuel price should be passed on to the consumers at the earliest and demanded that the Ministry of Civil Aviation take necessary steps in this regard.