Janeshwar Mishra Seeks Lefts Views

Union petroleum minister Janeshwar Mishra has sought the Left parties views on generating alternate sources of revenue to bridge the deficit in the oil pool account. This follows the decision of the United Front steering committee on Monday to have a detailed discussion on the issue on June 27.

Mishra, who was given the charge of petroleum ministry only last week, asked the Left parties to give their views in writing. Mishra has already hinted that he will go by consensus on the issue.

The Monday meeting did not discuss the issue for want of time even though Union finance minister P Chidambaram and Left leaders were ready to discuss the matter.

 

Left leaders continue to insist that there is no way the oil pool deficit account can be bridged by short-term measures and only long-term solutions can be attempted.

The Lefts long-term solutions include a comprehensive oil policy, giving a fillip to the indigenous oil exploration and effective steps to bring down the consumption of oil. CPI general secretary A B Bardhan regretted the lack of a comprehensive power policy in the country.

Fuel consumption is linked to number of vehicles on roads, the condition of roads, environmental problems and other related issues. Lack of a comprehensive approach has led to a lot of confusion, Bardhan added.

Both Bardhan and CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury insist that there should be a check on the number of private vehicles, and thus a check on quantum of the consumption of petroleum products.

Despite the Lefts opposition, the government is determined to go ahead with an across the board hike.

One cabinet minister said that hike was inevitable and there would be some hike in the prices of all the four products.

At the Mondays meeting, while CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet took exception to the repeated announcements of Prime Minister IK Gujral that a hike was inevitable, Chidambaram took a dig at Left leaders repeated announcements in media criticising the UF government.