UPA following defective petroleum pricing,taxation policy:BJP

Kolkata, Jun 8 (UNI) Former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today accused the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre of following a faulty petroleum pricing and taxation policy.

''This is responsible for the unprecedented inflation. Instead of raising the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG, the government should reduce the taxes'' the BJP MP told reporters here.

''The UPA government's claim that the petroleum companies are suffering heavy losses is baseless. The total earnings of the Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum from April 2007 to December 2007 was Rs 57,692 crore which does not substantiate the government's claim,'' Mr Joshi said.

Accusing the UPA government of lacking a well thought-out energy policy, he said if a proper pricing and taxation policy was followed, the fuel price hike would have been absolutely unnecessary.

''Solar and bio-energy should be harnessed to combat the energy crisis. Nano technology is the key to solving such problems.

However, the UPA government is totally oblivious of these facts,'' the BJP leader said.

To save the common man from being crushed by the burden of the ever-increasing prices of essential commodities, Mr Joshi suggested all the state governments slash sales tax and Value Added Tax by at least 50 per cent.

He lashed out at the CPI(M) as well as the Left parties--coalition partners of the UPA government--saying that the CPI(M) was raising such a hue and cry about the fuel price hike but was still supporting the Congress at the Centre.

''The CPI(M)'s only concern is that the NDA should be prevented from coming to power. The Left parties are least bothered about the hardships faced by the common people or the country's progress. They are here only for their vested interests and power-hungry motives,'' he said.

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