New Delhi: The government has bitten the bullet and decided to implement one of its boldest reforms - decontrol of petrol prices. The move will lead to an immediate hike in petrol and other fuel prices and has political ramifications, but the government is looking at long term gains in aligning prices to international rates. (Read: Govt decides to decontrol petrol prices; diesel, LPG, kerosene prices up too)
After the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met today to approve market driven increase in petrol prices, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said, "The price hike was minimum...we didn't have a choice."
Deora also insisted that all allies were on board on the fuel price hike decision. But there is the rub.
Because less than an hour later, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee made her opposition to the fuel price hike clear. Mamata, who has stayed away from the last two meetings of the EGOM, said she did not attend as her voice would have been in minority there. But, she said she would try and ensure that there was no hike in essential fuel that had a deep impact on the life of the common man. "We have raised our voice before the government to reconsider it...It's not fair to burden the common man," she said. (Watch: Not fair to burden common man, says Mamata)
After the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGOM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met today to approve market driven increase in petrol prices, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said, "The price hike was minimum...we didn't have a choice."
Deora also insisted that all allies were on board on the fuel price hike decision. But there is the rub.
Because less than an hour later, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee made her opposition to the fuel price hike clear. Mamata, who has stayed away from the last two meetings of the EGOM, said she did not attend as her voice would have been in minority there. But, she said she would try and ensure that there was no hike in essential fuel that had a deep impact on the life of the common man. "We have raised our voice before the government to reconsider it...It's not fair to burden the common man," she said. (Watch: Not fair to burden common man, says Mamata)
Pranab Mukherjee met Mamata last evening and is believed to have explained the imperatives to her in a bid to take along all political allies on this crucial move. Mamata said she understood market dynamics, but was first committed to the well-being of the people.
NCP leader Sharad Pawar, another key ally who opposed the hike and who too had skipped the last meeting, however, attended today's meeting.
The DMK too is opposed to the hike and Minister MK Alagiri handed over a note at the EGOM meeting that said the decision to hike fuel prices would put an additional burden on the public as the proposed increase was very high.
Both Mamata and the DMK have indicated that while they shall voice their protest at the common man being burdened, they will not rock their political alliance with the UPA.
Story first published:
June 25, 2010 16:08 IST
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/deora-says-all-on-board-but-some-allies-unhappy-33859?cp
