Not only opposition parties, Congress is now facing opposition within the party over increase in fertiliser prices. The West Bengal unit of Congress party has now appealed Centre to reduce prices of fertilisers.
The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee has even went ahead to adopt a resolution on the issue of continuing subsidies on fertilisers. “While appreciative of the Centre’s difficulties, members resolved to appeal to the Central Government to ensure that subsidy on fertiliser prices is maintained and the price rise of fertiliser is checked,” the party resolution says.
“We will be happy if the prices of fertilisers are reduced and subsidies for cooking gas cylinders are increased,” said State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya. According to Bhattacharya, increase in fertilser prices is one of the major issues, which has went against party in recent by-poll in Jangipur. The Congress candidate Abhijit Mukhrjee had won the seat by a narrow margin.
“Fertilesr prices are something which directly affects the poor, unlike the LPG cylinders, which is mainly used by the middle class. However, It would be also appreciated if subsidies for cooking gas cylinders are increased by Centre,” he said.
The state unit of the party has passed on the resolution to All India Congress Committee general secretary and person in-charge of West Bengal, Shakeel Ahmed.