gÉÉŌ A.]ÉŌ. xÉÉxÉÉ

03.08.2010
shell out Rs.32 for a kilogram of ‘Parmal’; price of tomoto is Rs.40 to Rs.60 per
kg; edible oil is Rs.90 per litre. Every thing is out of reach of the ordinary people
who are in a miserable condition.
Over and above, the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene have increased
steeply. The Government has least control over the prices of crude oil now – they
are actually regulated by the private, foreign companies. If this goes on, then the
prices are never going to come down and common people will continue to suffer.
Farmers will be worst hit.
This Government is extending the logic that it has to pay huge subsidies but
the truth is something else. Prices have not increased much in the international
market. In the last 6 months only 70 paise was the increase per litre in world
market whereas in India the rate has increased by Rs.4.50 or Rs.4.55 per litre. It is
said that the nationalized oil companies are given huge subsidy but in reality, as
Sushmaji mentioned, these companies are not incurring losses but are running on
profits. What will happen if the crude market is deregulated? The Ambanis and
other private companies will have a free hand.
Therefore the justification of the Government is not right. From here the
Government has raised Rs.1lakh 20 thousand crores out of which only 53
thousand crores are used as subsidy which means that the remaining Rs.67
thousand crores are being paid by the people of this country, not the Government.
Then we have seen that last year from 3G spectrum allocation, the
Government has earned more then one lakh crore rupees. If this huge amount of
money is utilized for social sector welfare, if it is used to serve the society then
there will be no need of hiking the petrol prices. If petroleum products remain
cheaper, if their prices do not increase further then inflation will come down,
prices of other commodities will be lower and purchasing capacity of the people
will increase. They will be able to purchase the essential goods and services.
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