Left Parties against hike in petrol price: Yechury

Kolar, Karnataka, May 25 (UNI) CPI(M) MP and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechuri today said the Left parties were against the hike in the prices of diesel and petrol and urged the UPA government to ''rationalise'' the tax system to reduce loss to the oil companies in the country.

Addressing a convention of All India Kisan Sabha here, he said the Union Government should find a way out to reduce the loss to oil companies instead of burdening the public frequently.

Mr Yechuri also urged the Centre to come to the rescue of the farmers, who were resorting to suicide. ''The UPA government should immediately intervene and ensure remunerative prices for agriculture produces and extend financial assistance through nationalised banks,'' he said.

Extending support to the reservation to OBC in higher education institutions, he said the Supreme Court verdict on ''no reservation for creamy layer'' should be adhered to. However, the interests of general category students should also be safeguarded, he added.

He said without the support of the Left parties, which were becoming stronger in the country, no single party would be able to form a government at the Centre.

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