Ploy to Deflect Criticism

 

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

 

The decision to cut petrol price by two rupees, on the eve of the parliament session is nothing but a poorly concealed ploy to deflect the widespread criticism of the failure of the Government to check inflation. Since July 2011, the price of petrol has gone up by five rupees, so it is still three rupees higher than it was mid-year. Since the deregulated regime was imposed in June last year, the prices of petrol have gone up several times.

 

Unless the Government reverses its anti-people measure of deregulation of prices of petrol, made even more necessary because of the volatility of the international market, there can be no relief from the cascading impact of rising prices of petroleum products. Instead of taking such a step, the Prime Minister is on record with the threat of extension of deregulation to the prices of other petroleum products such as diesel and cooking gas.

 

The CPI(M) demands reversal of deregulation.