Left not to accept partial rollback of price hike

Kolkata, Jun 7 : The left parties would refuse to accept any partial rollback of oil price hike, Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu today said.

" We will not accept anything but a complete rollback of the hike in oil prices," Left Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu told reporters after partners of the ruling coalition met to chalk out the week-long agitational programme.

Coming down heavily on the Centre for the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, Mr Basu said the measure had been taken ignoring the alternative proposal of the left parties.

" The Centre's decision will badly hit the common people. We suggested stabilising the price by lowering the import duty and cess, but the UPA Government refused to accept it forcing us to protest," he said.

Replying to a question on a recent comment by Oil Minister Murli Deora that the Government's decision was irreversible, Mr Basu said the Left parties were awaiting a statement from the Prime Minister.

" I do not attach any importance to the Oil Minister's comment.

If the Prime Minister says anything then only things take a different look," he said.

The Front Chairman said the left parties today organised protest rallies and demonstrations throughout the state protesting the oil price hike and chalked out a detailed programme to continue the agitation.

The coalition partners decided to involve all frontal organisations, including those for workers, farmers and students in a week-long agitational programme to be held in all districts till June 12.

" We will observe the All-India protest day on June 13 by organising sit-in in front of the regional offices of all oil PSUs in the state," Mr Basu said.

However, today's meeting did not not discuss any proposal to observe a strike even though CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat had threatened to go for a countrywide bandh in protest against the Government's decision.

UNI

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