Oppn slams govt for fuel price hike

Opposition also ridiculed Petroleum Minister Moily over his proposal to shut down petrol pumps during night

Government today came under sharp attack from Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha over fuel price hike with CPI-M, CPI and Trinamool members staging walk-out from the House which saw a brief adjournment due to uproar.

Members including those from BJP attacked the government over the issue saying making the announcement outside the House amounted to bypassing Parliament when it was in session.

They also ridiculed Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily over his proposal to shut down petrol pumps during night to taper the fuel demand.

Accusing the government of declaring a war on common man and increasing the miseries of people, the parties demanded roll-back of the decision.

Moily has already clarified that the government has not made any such proposal and the idea of closing down petrol pumps for night hours had come from public.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Prashanta Chatterjee (CPI-M) said it was unfortunate that petrol and diesel price hike was announced outside Parliament and demanded a rollback of the decision.

"This is the sixth increase in the price of petrol in last three months. Price of diesel is being increased 50 paisa per month. Unable to check fall in value of rupee, UPA government is resorting to hikes. Government is responsible for increasing the miseries of people," he said.

Noting that pricing of petrol was decontrolled by UPA government and "on diesel, they have taken a principle decision", Chatterjee demanded that the government should scrap it immediately.

M Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) rued that the government's "totally anti-people" decision came without taking Parliament into confidence.

Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress) said the government has declared a war on common man and ridiculed Moily for his "ill-conceived and ill-thought" idea to shut down petrol pumps at night.