CPI(M) urges Centre to bring down petroleum prices

New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) The CPI(M), after being forced to retreat from its agenda of acquiring agricultural farm land for the setting up of Special Economic Zone in West Bengal, has now taken up a crusade against the Centre on the crude oil price issue.

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) urged the Centre to reduce the prices of petroleum products since the international prices of crude oil came down to the level of around 52 dollars a barrel.

The party is of the view that the Centre should immediately reduce the price of petroleum products to the pre-June 2006 level as a first step. Subsequently, the Government should make a further proportionate reduction in the prices commensurate with the a fall in international prices.

The party renewed its demand to restructure the taxes and duties on petroleum products to ensure that the volatility of international crude prices did not burden the consumer.

The rise in prices of petroleum products has already led to a sharp rise in inflation rates, affecting the prices of all essential commodities, said a party release issued here today.

UNI