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Left, TDP and JD(S) demand fuel price cut

NEW DELHI: The Left parties, supported by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal (Secular), have called for observing December 2 as a protest day to demand reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel.

A joint statement issued here on Monday said demonstrations and dharnas would be held all over the country to press the demand. It charged the Manmohan Singh government with refusing to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel despite the steady fall in the international oil prices.

The administered price of petrol and diesel was increased in June 2008 by Rs. 5 and Rs. 3 per litre respectively when the international oil prices had reached $123 per barrel.

There was no justification for refusing to make a substantial cut when the government itself admitted that the administered price of petrol and diesel were based upon an Indian basket calculated at $67 a barrel, the statement said.

The joint statement was issued by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Janata Dal (Secular), Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

The government has reduced Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) used by the airline companies in five phases in the past four months. The ATF has also been exempted from 5 per cent import duty, the statement said.

It said neither the Prime Minister nor the Finance Minister considered the losses suffered by the oil marketing companies when providing such largesse to the private airline companies. The government stand was ‘callous’ as it refused to cut the prices of petrol and diesel and provide relief to the people reeling under the all-round price rise of essential commodities.

A reduction of petroleum prices would have a beneficial effect on the economy and bring down prices of all other commodities, the statement said.

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