Left parties to stage dharna in Bihar on fuel prices

Patna, Nov 30(UNI) All the Left parties of Bihar today announced to jointly stage dharna here on December 5 to protest the Centre's alleged failure to reduce the price of petrol and diesel, despite a considerable fall in the international market during the past few weeks.

After holding a joint meeting here, the leaders of Left Parties said, ''The Union government increased the price of petrol and diesel when the international price of crude oil was 150 dollar per barrel. It is strange that the Centre is sitting idle. It is not inclined to pass on the benefits of the fall of crude oil prices, currently hovering around USD 50 per barrel.'' The Left parties also flayed the BJP for its protest over the Centre's move to slash the petroleum prices by unnecessarily raising the objection on the basis of ''model code of conduct''.

''The code of conduct has been enforced due to Assembly Elections in some states. The entire nation could not be deprived of the benefits of price cut in petroleum products till the completion of these electroal hustings,'' the leaders maintained.

Mohammad Jabbar Alam(CPI), Jitendra Nath(CPI), Vijay Kant Thakur(CPM), Rameshwar Prasad of CPI(ML) and Bhairav Kumar of Janwadi Forward Block were among others present in the meeting.

UNI KKS SB SRC SB UCS2259