Fuel hike: CPI(M) not satisifed with ST reduction by AP Govt

Hyderabad, June 10 (UNI) Dismissing as ''political drama'' the ''nominal'' reduction in Sales Tax on fuel by the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh with an eye on the local body polls, CPI(M) Politburo member and State Secretary B V Raghavulu today asserted that the party would go ahead with the June 13 protest jointly with the TDP against the fuel price hike by the UPA Government.

The Centre should immediately roll back the hefty hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, he demanded while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the three-day party Central Committee meeting here.

The reduction of just 40 paise on petrol and 22 paise on diesel per litre by the Rajasekhara Reddy Government would not provide any relief to the poor people who were already hit hard by the rise in prices of all essential commodities, he said, adding that the UPA Government's decision would only fuel inflation.

Denying the Congress charge that the CPI(M)'s joint stir with TDP smacked of ''political opportunism'', he said his party had aligned with the Congress to fight against the ''anti-people'' policies of then TDP Government and would not hesitate to take to streets in support of the people when the Congress Government acted against their interests.

On talks with the Congress for the polls to the Panchayat Raj Institutions, he said the talks had not made any headway so far.

The Congress party's response was ''lukewarm'' so far, he felt, adding that his party would wait till the notification for the polls was issued to decide on its future course of action.

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