Diesel price crosses Rs 100 in Kerala
After increasing fuel prices for the sixth consecutive day, the price of a liter of diesel crossed Rs 100 in Kerala on Sunday, drawing criticism from various quarters, including the Congress, at the Centre. According to the price notification of the state-owned fuel retailers, the price of petrol was hiked by 30 paise per liter and diesel by 35 paise per liter.
Prices vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly, VD Satheesan said the hike in fuel prices was an example of ‘anti-people politics’ to exploit the public which was already grappling with the impact of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
In a release, Satisan opposed the hike in fuel prices, saying it was a “crime against the people of India”.
He said the rising prices of petrol and diesel would have a huge impact on other areas of people’s lives making it even more miserable.
The Congress leader said that the central government is daring to do so as it is confident that it can overturn people’s votes by debating communalism and excessive nationalism.
The hike in fuel prices was also criticized by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI, which said petrol was being taxed excessively at a time when the country was facing the COVID-19 pandemic. . diesel, thereby increasing their prices.
It said in a release that the central government is working in the interest of corporates and oil companies and not in the interest of the people.
It further argued that the rise in fuel prices would affect all walks of life and would also hamper the economic growth of the country.
DYFI said the hike in fuel prices will also adversely affect a consumer-run state like Kerala.
Meanwhile, the Kerala State Road Transport (KSRT) employees union – a part of the Center for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) – said in a release that it will hold protests at 100 centers in the southern state if diesel prices cross Rs 100. . .
It said that despite the fall in global crude oil prices, the central government is not ready to reduce the tax on petroleum products.
On this aspect, Satisan said that during the UPA government there was a subsidy of Rs 16 on diesel even when the global crude oil prices were high.
He claimed that despite the subsidy bill of crores of rupees, the country has implemented various major projects worth lakhs of crores including Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme, Food Security Act and Right to Education Act.
However, now subsidies have been completely abolished and despite a fall in crude oil prices and an increase in revenue of several billion rupees for the Centre, it is “robbing” people with taxes without any people-centric project , alleged Satisan.
He further said that when Manmohan Singh was at the helm of the central government, fuel prices were fixed on the basis of global crude oil prices and when it fell, people benefited.
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