OPINION:
Fuel price hike
I am afraid it has become inevitable for the Government of India to increase the fuel prices including Rs 50/- rise in the cooking gas. Well, the petroleum is the product which has direct bearing on all the daily used essential commodities. So, now still worse time is expected. The prices of almost all food items will be soaring high further which would be like rubbing salt in the festering wound of the middle and the poor classes of people. The PMO has never thought of cutting down on the luxury, traveling and security expenses of all the political leaders, which amount to thousands corers. This way the petrol products could have been hugely subsidized. Alas, our sensitive and sensible economist Prime Minister has utterly failed to alleviate the miseries of the common masses.
While the unprecedented inflation has put the ruling UPA in the most thorny situation, the other parties are taking it as a god sent opportunity. It is because the Lok Sabha Election is round the corner. The opposition parties, instead of cooperating the government to deal with the crisis, they have began to heap the negative criticism against the UPA ----after all it is the ethics of the dirty politics
In keeping with the ever increasing price of petrol in the global market, one feels, it is essential for the Government to take the sternest steps. The most recommended step will be a drastic reduction of the vehicular density across the country and imposition of higher motor vehicle tax. It may sound less palatable to the affluent classes but considering the plight of majority population it is quite important. If overall oil consumption can be reduced, the prices of essential commodities can be checked effectively.
- Salil Gewali, Upper Mawprem, Shillong-793002 Email : sgewali2000@yahoo.co.in