CPI plans stir against price hike

PUDUCHERRY: Condemning the hike in prices of kerosene, diesel and LPG, CPI national secretary D Raja said the Congress-led UPA government has miserably failed to check price rise that cannot be justified.He said the government should come out with a statement about the alleged losses suffered by domestic oil companies, prices of oil bought from the international market, amount spent for processing and taxes like customs and excise duty on the petroleum products.Raja said the prices of petroleum products have been increased 10 times in the last two years of UPA rule and the hike was a big blow on the common man, who was already reeling under the pressure of inflation and the rise in prices ofessential commodities.Terming the government’s decision as “anti-people”, he said it would have a cascading effect on the prices of all other commodities.Saying the Centre failed in checking inflation despite the resolution in Parliament last year, he urged the government to roll back the prices.Claiming the hike was to help the “corporates”, he warned that CPI would hold agitations with support of the masses against the UPA government’s anti-people policies.With inflation above nine percent and domestic fuel costs up nearly 13 percent in the year, raising prices would immediately hit India’s poor.