Petrol Hike: S P, Left to chalk out joint strategy against UPA Govt

New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) Describing the hefty rise in fuel prices effected by the UPA Government as ''anti-people,'' the Samajawadi Party today said it would chalk out a strategy in tandem with the Left to oppose the step.

Addressing a press conference here this evening, SP General Secretary Amar Singh said party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav met CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat the day before yesterday to discuss the issue.

''The two sides decided to hold a meeting in the first week of July to chalk out a common strategy to launch a countrywide campaign against the anti-people policies of the UPA government,'' he said.

When asked about the appeal of the Prime Minister to states to take steps to reduce the fuel prices by cutting down taxes, Mr Singh said that positive steps should be taken by all states to lessen the burden on the commonman.

Yesterday, BSP chief Mayawati, while addressing a press conference here, had rejected the Prime Minister's appeal, saying the Centre should reduce excise and customs duty rather than asking the states to reduce their taxes.

Mr Singh said he felt it was the duty of all to do all possible to give relief to the common man from the economic burden which was getting heavier day by day by the rising infaltion.

On the day the increase in petrol price was announced, a senior SP leader and chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha Mohan Singh had justified the Rs five per litre rise in petrol prices, but said the LPG hike was unfair.

When asked about today's meeting between Ms Mayawati and Mr Mulayam Singh at the former's official residence in Lucknow, Mr Amar Singh said it was just a meeting in connection with selection of candidates for the members of the state Human Rights Commission.

Probably it was the first one-to-one meeting between Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ms Mayawati after the BSP government came to power one year ago.

Mr Singh said there was nothing significant about the meeting, as the leader of the Opposition is generally invited on such occasions.

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