'SP's bandh on price hike diversionary tactic'

Lucknow, June 6: The Congress today described the bandh call of the ruling Samajwadi Party on June 13 against fuel price hike as an attempt to divert the attention of common man from other burning issues in Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to reporters here, UP Congress president Salman Khurshid said the hike was necessitated after fuel prices in the world market have shot up following the Iraq crisis.

''The committee had suggested a Rs 10 per litre hike, but the government increased it by only Rs 4 per litre.'' He claimed while political parties were free to protest the hike, Congress was bound by its commitments.

To a poser on the reaction of common man towards the hefty hike, he said the people -- at the time of making a decision -- would also consider the increased job opportunities and developmental work carried out by the union government.

''Moreover, the prices of LPG and kerosene have been spared to ensure that the poor did not suffer,'' he said.

Mr Khurshid quipped the SP should also protest the UP government decision to sell prime land in Noida to two groups at throwaway prices. ''While the land costs Rs 5,000 crore, it was sold at a mere Rs 1,500 crore and the public was kept away from auction...they should bring this fact before the public too,'' he maintained.

UNI

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