Badal demands to include diesel as essential commodity

A day after diesel prices were hiked, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded from the Centre to include diesel in the list of essential commodities to tame inflation.
"Diesel must be included in the list of essential commodities as it will directly help in reducing inflation across the country," Badal, whose party SAD is a coalition partner in NDA government, said in Bathinda today.
Pitching for cheap diesel prices, the SAD patron said that he would take up the issue with the Union government soon once the newly-appointed ministers settle down for work.
Badal said diesel was catalyst for growth in the agriculture and transport sector.

"By lowering its prices a huge relief could be given to the countrymen," he said.
Diesel prices were yesterday hiked by 50 paise a litre, excluding state levies.