Despite considerable decrease in crude oil prices, the prices of petroleum products are increasing by the day. The Petroleum Ministry has become a lootera ministry.
Prasanna Acharya, BJD vice-president
Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Monday launched a three-day statewide stir against the Narendra Modi government to protest against soaring fuel price.
Holding banners and shouting slogans, hundreds of party activists, including women, staged a demonstration followed by a protest meeting at Raj Bhawan Square here.
Members of BJD’s student, women and youth wings joined the protest.
Later, a delegation of the party submitted a memorandum to the Governor addressed to the President of India in this regard. Similar demonstrations and meetings were held in all the 314 blocks of the state.
BJD vice-president Prasanna Acharya said the protest was manifestation of the common man’s anger at the never-ending rise in fuel price.
” Despite considerable decrease in crude oil prices, the prices of petroleum products are increasing by the day. The Petroleum Ministry has become a lootera ministry,” he said.
Another vice-president of the party, Debi Prasad Mishra, said, “We are demanding of the Centre to control prices of petrol and diesel in the interest of the common people. The day-by-day hike in fuel prices will adversely affect all sections of people.”
Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said that Centre was annually collecting over Rs six lakh crore from fuel from various states. “If they reduce the excise duty by at least Rs 2 lakh crore, the common man will get some relief. The VAT in our state is low compared to many BJP-ruled states,” Behera said.
They BJD leaders alleged that the BJP-led Union government was only helping private oil companies to make a profit while exploiting the common people. If they do not reduce the excise duty, the party will intensify its protest, they warned.
Even though reduction of VAT will make a difference, the excise duty should also be cut. “The Centre has closed its eyes, and as a result people are suffering. As far as the BJD protest is concerned, it is a complete political drama and vote-gaining strategy”, said state Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik.
Reacting to the BJD’s protest, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Instead of protesting the state government should take steps to reduce tax on petrol and diesel to ease the burden of consumers in Odisha. The Centre has already reduced tax on fuel in the past and is planning to reconsider reduction in the coming days, too” he said, adding “The state government is only shedding crocodile tears.”
Bus fares hiked
With the increase in fuel price, the state government Monday hiked fares for all categories of passenger buses as per the automatic fare adjustment mechanism.
As per a notification issued by the Commerce and Transport department, the fares for ordinary and express buses have been hiked by 2 paise per km while fares for deluxe and AC deluxe category buses have been hiked by 4 paise per km.
The fare for ordinary buses will now be 70 paise per km as against 68 paise per km earlier while the fare for express buses will be 73 paise from 71 paise per km earlier.
Besides, the fare for deluxe buses will be Rs 1.01 per km as against 97 paise while AC Deluxe buses will charge Rs 1.23 instead of Rs 1.19 per km, the notification added.
Despite considerable decrease in crude oil prices, the prices of petroleum products are increasing by the day. The Petroleum Ministry has become a lootera ministry.
Prasanna Acharya, BJD vice-president
