CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta criticizes Central Government over price hike

Kolkata, Jan 22(ANI): Expressing concern over the nationwide hike in the prices of essential food commodities, the senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta criticized the Central Government on Saturday for 'failing' to curtail the surging inflation.

Briefing reporters on the sidelines of a political rally in Kolkata, Dasgupta criticized the recent fuel price hike, deeming it a 'suicidal' move by the government.

"Petrol hike has been ordered by the government when the government failed totally to control the price. It is suicidal and it has just the counter-productive effect in further pushing up this spiral. The government, which is totally insensitive to price rise can only take this decision," said Dasgupta.

The country is beset by rising food and fuel prices, and the Central government is facing criticism for failing to introduce structural reforms to control inflation, which has hit the general public adversely.

Earlier, on January 15, state-owned oil companies had hiked petrol prices by Rs. 2.50 - Rs. 2.54 per litre, the second hike in a month, due to rising global crude oil prices. (ANI)