Reduce prices of petroleum products, CPM to govt

Srinagar, Nov 13 (UNI) Demanding reduction in the prices of petroleum products, the CPI(M) today said it had affected the common people badly.

Party State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami said the rise in the petroleum products had badly affected the common man. ''Central government is showing insensitivity and at the same time distorting the facts pertaining to the pricing of petroleum products,'' he said in a statement here.

He said impression was being given that the oil marketing companies were making losses due to the underpricing of the products.

But, he said, the fact of the matter was that the retail prices of petroleum products in India are higher than in many other countries because of the high taxes charged by the government on them.

Mr Tarigami said the government had decided to increase the administered price of petrol and diesel when the international crude oil prices were reaching astronomical levels in 2007.

''Now when the international prices have come down considerably, the government must immediately bring down the administered prices of all petroleum products,'' Mr Tarigami said, adding such a step would go a long way in bringing down the runaway prices of essential commodities and ensure relief to the suffering people.

UNI BAS SW CS1545