Demanding an immediate rollback of the fuel price hike, AIADMK today announced that it would hold a state-wide demonstration on March 6 over the issue.
Party leader Jayalalithaa said protests would also be held in states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Puducherry, where her party was functioning.
“At a time when the country was expecting budgetary measures to curb price rise, the Centre has increased excise and customs duties on fuels, resulting in their prices going up,” she said in a statement here.
“The primary focus of the Centre and states at this point of time should have been on controlling price rise,” she said.
The hike had already resulted in a 20 per cent increase in fares of autorickshaw, lorry and private vehicles, she said, adding that this would further lead to an increase in prices of essential commodities, affecting lower income groups.
Various wings of AIADMK would take part in the protest, to be headed by different leaders of the party, she said.
Showing posts with label fuel price hike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuel price hike. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Fuel price hike rocks A.P. Assembly
The latest hike in petroleum prices announced by the Centre caused a furore in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and the Council on Tuesday.
The Telugu Desam (TDP), the Praja Rajyam, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the Bharatiya Janata Party and the two Left parties moved adjournment motions seeking a debate. These were rejected by Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) wanted the Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, to introduce a resolution seeking rollback of the hike. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the State reduce the sales tax on petroleum products.
The Telugu Desam (TDP), the Praja Rajyam, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the Bharatiya Janata Party and the two Left parties moved adjournment motions seeking a debate. These were rejected by Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) wanted the Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah, to introduce a resolution seeking rollback of the hike. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi demanded that the State reduce the sales tax on petroleum products.
Opposition steps up offensive on price hike
Sensing an opportunity to expose the lack of unity in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on the issue of hike in the taxes on petroleum products, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition is drawing up plans to embarrass the government.
The BJP also plans to take Opposition unity on this issue to a new plane even as the Left parties decided to step up pressure on the government leading to its March 12 rally in the capital against rise in the prices of essential commodities.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the “arrogance of power” displayed in his assertion that there would be no rollback of the increased taxes on petroleum products announced in the budget.
On Wednesday the party would plan its floor strategy on this issue and other subjects at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the party did not accept the argument offered by the government to justify the hike in petroleum products.
In the context of the rise in prices of food items, he said, the effect of the hike on petrol and diesel prices would be felt and cannot be minimised. “People will be put to great suffering if there is further rise in prices, of food items in particular,” he told The Hindu.
As for the Opposition strategy in Parliament, he said while the CPI(M) was trying to bring non-Congress secular parties together, on the issue of price rise, the entire Opposition was agitated and last week’s development in Parliament was an expression of that.
After Tuesday’s strike in Kerala against the hike in fuel prices, the Left Front will hold week-long demonstrations across West Bengal. Between March 3 and 9, the Left parties will conduct processions in various places.
Separately, trade unions across the political spectrum have decided to go on a mass agitation in different parts of the country in the form of road and rail blockades, and satyagraha to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities and now the hike in petroleum products.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, MP, told The Hindu, that for the first time all trade unions including those affiliated to the Congress and the BJP would agitate on March 5. Lakhs of workers will offer arrest in metropolitan and industrial centres in the country.
Cut motion
The BJP said the party wants to use a cut motion during the vote on the Finance Bill in the second part of the budget session less as a tool to defeat the government and more to show up the fissures in the UPA as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress have both demanded a rollback of the tax hike.
The party is hoping that Opposition unity would take place automatically and on the spur of the moment as it materialised when one party after another walked out during the budget presentation on February 26 in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP also plans to take Opposition unity on this issue to a new plane even as the Left parties decided to step up pressure on the government leading to its March 12 rally in the capital against rise in the prices of essential commodities.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the “arrogance of power” displayed in his assertion that there would be no rollback of the increased taxes on petroleum products announced in the budget.
On Wednesday the party would plan its floor strategy on this issue and other subjects at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the party did not accept the argument offered by the government to justify the hike in petroleum products.
In the context of the rise in prices of food items, he said, the effect of the hike on petrol and diesel prices would be felt and cannot be minimised. “People will be put to great suffering if there is further rise in prices, of food items in particular,” he told The Hindu.
As for the Opposition strategy in Parliament, he said while the CPI(M) was trying to bring non-Congress secular parties together, on the issue of price rise, the entire Opposition was agitated and last week’s development in Parliament was an expression of that.
After Tuesday’s strike in Kerala against the hike in fuel prices, the Left Front will hold week-long demonstrations across West Bengal. Between March 3 and 9, the Left parties will conduct processions in various places.
Separately, trade unions across the political spectrum have decided to go on a mass agitation in different parts of the country in the form of road and rail blockades, and satyagraha to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities and now the hike in petroleum products.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, MP, told The Hindu, that for the first time all trade unions including those affiliated to the Congress and the BJP would agitate on March 5. Lakhs of workers will offer arrest in metropolitan and industrial centres in the country.
Cut motion
The BJP said the party wants to use a cut motion during the vote on the Finance Bill in the second part of the budget session less as a tool to defeat the government and more to show up the fissures in the UPA as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress have both demanded a rollback of the tax hike.
The party is hoping that Opposition unity would take place automatically and on the spur of the moment as it materialised when one party after another walked out during the budget presentation on February 26 in the Lok Sabha.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Fuel price hike: AP Assembly adjourned amidst protests
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday adjourned briefly as the opposition created a ruckus over the issue of rise in petrol and diesel prices.
As soon as the House met for the day, members belonging to TDP, CPI, CPI(M), BJP and Praja Rajyam Party demanded that the issue be discussed through an adjournment motion.
As their demand was rejected, the opposition members stalled the proceedings and Speaker N. Kiran Kumar adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
The opposition parties also demanded an immediate roll back of the hike to save the common man and wanted the state government to move a resolution in this regard.
The Chair, however, allowed floor leaders to make a mention of the issue and put forth their plea for a resolution by the House.
Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu strongly denounced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assertion that the hike would not be rolled back.
“The UPA government has enhanced prices of petroleum products 11 times in the last five years. It has totally broken the back of the common man,” he said, pointing out that even UPA allies like DMK and Trinamool Congress have opposed the hike.
Praja Rajyam Party member Vanga Geeta said the Prime Minister’s statement had only aggravated the concerns of the common people.
G. Kishan Reddy (BJP) said the price of petrol in Hyderabad was the highest in the country.
Majlis Ittehadul—e—Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said taxes in the state were too high and the government should immediately cut them.
G. Mallesh (CPI) and J. Ranga Reddy (CPI(M)) also denounced the hike.
Leader of the House J. Geeta Reddy, however, rejected the opposition demand for a resolution.
“We understand their (opposition) concern but they can raise this issue during the course of discussion on the State budget,” she said.
This did not satisfy the opposition members and they raised slogans against the government.
Amidst the din, the Speaker took up the Question Hour, but as the opposition members did not relent, the House was adjourned.
As soon as the House met for the day, members belonging to TDP, CPI, CPI(M), BJP and Praja Rajyam Party demanded that the issue be discussed through an adjournment motion.
As their demand was rejected, the opposition members stalled the proceedings and Speaker N. Kiran Kumar adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
The opposition parties also demanded an immediate roll back of the hike to save the common man and wanted the state government to move a resolution in this regard.
The Chair, however, allowed floor leaders to make a mention of the issue and put forth their plea for a resolution by the House.
Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu strongly denounced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assertion that the hike would not be rolled back.
“The UPA government has enhanced prices of petroleum products 11 times in the last five years. It has totally broken the back of the common man,” he said, pointing out that even UPA allies like DMK and Trinamool Congress have opposed the hike.
Praja Rajyam Party member Vanga Geeta said the Prime Minister’s statement had only aggravated the concerns of the common people.
G. Kishan Reddy (BJP) said the price of petrol in Hyderabad was the highest in the country.
Majlis Ittehadul—e—Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said taxes in the state were too high and the government should immediately cut them.
G. Mallesh (CPI) and J. Ranga Reddy (CPI(M)) also denounced the hike.
Leader of the House J. Geeta Reddy, however, rejected the opposition demand for a resolution.
“We understand their (opposition) concern but they can raise this issue during the course of discussion on the State budget,” she said.
This did not satisfy the opposition members and they raised slogans against the government.
Amidst the din, the Speaker took up the Question Hour, but as the opposition members did not relent, the House was adjourned.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
On fuel, no price hike now
The government has no plan to hike fuel prices immediately, Petroleum Secretary S.Sundareshan announced here on Thursday. However, the secretary added that fuel price hike cannot be avoided for long.
