National

Pittance, piecemeal: Gowda

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) national president, H.D. Deve Gowda, on Saturday said the reduction in fuel prices was a piecemeal action and exposed the “anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-poor approach” of the UPA government.

In a statement here, he demanded that the government, as a short-term measure, pass on the entire benefit of the fall in international crude prices to consumers, including a substantial reduction in LPG and kerosene prices.

In the long term, it must rectify anomalies in the pricing structure, establish a price stabilisation fund from the cess the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India were paying to the government as suggested in successive reports of a Standing Committee of Parliament.

The government must earmark substantial funds for the development of the oil sector and research and development of biofuel to meet the long-term requirements.

Otherwise, the price reduction “would be nothing but an eyewash and gimmick done with an eye on the vote bank.”

At a time when petroleum prices touched an all-time low, the government’s decision to reduce prices by Rs. 5 a litre for petrol and Rs. 2 for diesel “is pitiful and nothing short of pittance.”

Mr. Gowda said it was unfortunate that housewives, already battling a steep hike in the prices of edible oils, vegetables and other food items, were left in the lurch with no reduction in the LPG price, which was increased by Rs.50 a cylinder.

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