Congress okays fuel price hike

New Delhi, Jan 14: Amid reports that the government would hike petrol and diesel prices this week, the ruling Congress today expressed the hope that all steps would be taken to minimise the impact on the common man. "The Congress party wish to put on record its hopes that the government will take all steps to minimise and soften, to the maximum degree possible, any impact of the global rise in oil prices,"AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons, in a virtual endorsement of the hike proposal.

Dr Singhvi said the government should take all reasonable steps within the larger macro economic perspective. "Any decision on the issue should be based on overall national perspective," he said. He said the entire hike in the international prices of oil should not be passed on to the consumer. Asked if the UPA government had put the Ram Setu issue on the backburner, Dr Singhvi said the matter was now before the Supreme Court.

"It is a sub-judice apex court matter." Replying to a query on the demand for conferment of "Bharat Ratna," the highest civilian award, on different personalities, the spokesman said such an important exercise should not be trivialised.

The awardees of the Bharat Ratna were selected by a committee. "It will be better if such a question is addressed to the committee." On the demand of the Uttar Pradesh Congress committee for the creation of Bundelkhand and setting up of a Second States Reorganisation Commission, Dr Singhvi said such matters were decided by the government.

However, there were a lot of issues arising in respect of several states which had to be looked into by a commission."This will only help to find out if a scrutiny is required," Dr singhvi said.

UNI