Effect full price cut for petrol, diesel: CPM

New Delhi, Nov 29: The CPI (M) today demanded that the Manmohan Singh government effect a full reduction in the prices of fuel -- Rs four and Rs two per litre of petrol and diesel respectively, saying that the present cut had only led to a ''50 per cent'' relief for the commom man.

While welcoming the price price cut of Rs two per litre of petrol and Re one per litre of diesel, the Left party also asked the Government to also contain prices of essential commodities by doing away with the system of forward and futures trading system to provide more relief to ''the man in the street.'' Addressing a press conference in the premises of Parliament, CPI(M) group leader in the Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechury said that the UPA government had failed to contain prices of essential commodities like sugar and wheat, among other things. The party's floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia was also present .

Responding to a specific query whether UPA Chairperson Ms Sonia Gandhi was the ''Satta Ka Kendra (centre of power)'' in the wake of her pressure on the government to effect a cut in the prices of petrol and diesel, Mr Yechury retorted that they should also note that the fact that she had acceeded to the persistant demand of the Left parties.

Stressing that the Left had not only been raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, but had also been waging a relentless struggle on the price front, he said the price cut in the prices of petrol and diesel should be so-related proportionately with the prices of crude oil in the international market.

Mr Yechury also underlined the need for more urgent measures like strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Fair Price Shops to provide more relief to the common people.

UNI