Karnataka: HD Gowda slams fuel price hike

Bangalore, Jun 25: JDS chief HD Deve Gowda today (Jun 25) opposed the hike in prices of kerosene, diesel and LPG and alleged that the Centre's action in reducing excise and customs duty was done to benefit oil companies.

"When prices of petroleum products remained stable at USD 90 per barrel in International market in the last four or five months, where is the need for going in for price hike?," the former Prime Minister asked.

Gowda took a dig at the Centre for reducing excise and customs duty, which, he charged, was done to benefit oil companies to the extent of Rs 70,000 crore. The government has not onpassed the benefits of duty cut to consumers, he charged.

"While the Government keeps on assuring people that it will take measures to bring down rising inflation, it resorts to price hike," he told reporters here.

Gowda reiterated that the Prime Minister should be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal bill and wanted the Centre to work out a mechanism to fix accountability of judiciary.

The proposed Judicial Accountability Bill will not be of any help in this direction, he claimed.

PTI