Demand in LS for rollback of fuel price hike

The issue of rise in fuel prices reverberated in the Lok Sabha today with several members demanding an immediate rollback and blaming "poor economic policies" of the UPA government for the frequent hikes.

Several members had moved adjournment motions to raise the issue, but Speaker Meira Kumar said she has not accepted the demand. She said they would be allowed to raise the issue during Zero Hour.

As soon as the House met for day, BJP members raised the issue of missing coal files. Members from the Left rushed to the Well holding placards against fuel price hike.

Congress members were seen displaying placards seeking resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi following the resignation of IPS officer D G Vanzara accusing the state government of not defending cops accused of fake encounters.

But despite the din created by various members, the House proceedings continued with members raising various issues during Zero Hour.

Ananth Kumar (BJP) said the policies followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were behind the poor state of economy which led to the slide in the value of the Rupee. Devalued Rupee was putting pressure on imports, he said.

"We need a categorical assurance from the Finance Minister that the fuel price hike will be rolled back. We also want the Petroleum Minister (M Veerappa Moily) to assure the House that there will be no night curfew on petrol pumps," he said.

Moily rose to clarify on his remarks on night curfew, but nothing could be heard.

Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) blamed government's decision to deregulate diesel and petrol prices behind frequent hikes. He sought a clarification on whether government planned to hike diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre every month after the Monsoon Session.

Prabhunath Singh (RJD) said the diesel price hike was hurting farmers as most of them have to rely on diesel-powered generators to irrigate their fields.

Saugata Roy (TMC) slammed the government for its "total failure" in maintaining the economy. He said with hike in fuel prices, the cost of travel will go up considerably.