Centre should bring down petrol and diesel prices : LF

Kolkata, Nov 24 (UNI) All India Left and Democratic parties today demanded the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel following sharp decline in the prices of crude oil in the international market.

The UPA government had reduced the prices of aviation turbine fuel(ATF) in five times during a period of four months, the Left Front Commitee said in a statement.

The ATF prices had been brought down from Rs 71,000 per kilolitre to Rs 43,000 per kilolitre, while an exemption of five per cent in the import duties was okayed, it added.

''The commoners are hit hard by the soaring prices of essential commodities. In spite of this, the government has shown its irresponsibleness by not slashing fuel prices,'' the statement opined.

''We will jointly stage our protest on December 2 across the country by organising rallies in demand for a cut in fuel prices for the common people's relief,'' it said.

UNI AKM SB PD KP2206