CPI(M) Accuses PM | Fuel Price Hike | Insensitive To People

New Delhi, Mar 3: Slamming the hike in the fuel prices, CPI(M) has accused the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being 'insensitive to the sufferings' of people due to the price rise.

The Communist party said that Dr Singh"s justification of hike in petrol prices reflects a 'flawed economic thinking'.

PM's estimated 0.4 per cent rise in the wholesale price index is a 'gross miscalculation' as it does not consider the impact of high fuel prices on food prices, the statement, released on Wednesday, Mar 3, contended.

“Food price inflation soared after the last hike in petrol prices in July 2009. At a time when the people are reeling under nearly 20 per cent food price inflation, this round of fuel price hike will amount to a completely back-breaking burden," the party said.

Besides this, noting that revenue worth Rs 26,000 crore will be lost during the same period due to the cut in income taxes, the party questioned, “How come the Prime Minister is defending the indirect tax hike in the name of fiscal consolidation while turning a blind eye towards the direct tax cuts?"

OneIndia News

User Comments

K C Seetharaman 03 Mar 2010 05:21 pm

Bapu – Save the Common Man The lot of the common man is being challenged once again. He needs to pay the price of decisions taken by an administration which is totally insensitive to his plight. The sensex has jumped – so what? Has he invested in the sensex or the nifty? He does not know what this means, he only knows about the prices of rice, wheat and pulses which have shot up without any prior notice. The Finance Minister talks about bringing down the deficit but who will bridge the deficit which he faces every day? The income tax slabs have been adjusted very handsomely but then the income which our common man has does not even reach near to the threshold limit, its like showing a coconut on the coconut tree to a thirsty child and telling him to quench his thirst. Every year we have a budget which talks about the revenue receipts the revenue expenditures and the surplus or the deficit as the case may be. The presentations are just fabulous and probably would match any professional standards set by even the Harvard School of Business, the analysis which follows matches the best the world can provide, but then are we dealing with people who move around in three piece suits or are we addressing people who do not even have two square meals a day. Are we addressing the needs of India which Mahatma Gandhi visualized, a vibrant India which would be sensitive to the needs of the common man? Are we talking about the Hyderabads or the Bengalurus or are we are talking about the small villages which we come across when we travel just 50 kms from these so called bastions of development, where people are dressed in dhotis and maybe a shirt if they can afford it. If that be the case then is this so called common man told why he needs to pay more when he is already burdened beyond his limits– is he ever explained why he has to pay more?