Fuel price: CPI(M) strongly opposes PM's statement

New Delhi, Nov 5: The CPI(M) today (Nov 5) strongly opposed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement supporting further deregulation of fuel prices, saying it confirmed the UPA government's "anti-people and pro-rich character".

"Prime Minister, for whose interests," said the heading of a CPI(M) Politburo statement, which added that the party "strongly opposes these remarks of the Prime Minister which stem from his right wing neo-liberal approach."

"The petrol pricing was deregulated in June 2010 which has resulted in the continuous increase of petrol price since then. This step has led to fueling inflation and sharp increase in food prices, burdening the people," it said.

Maintaining that the Prime Minister had talked about cutting subsidies, it said, "he obviously means only the reduction of subsidies which concern the common people.

"His government has no compunction about providing subsidies and tax sops for big business and foreign capital," the major Left party said.

The Prime Minister's assertion at Cannes that there should be further deregulation of fuel prices and the policy should be to 'allow markets to find their own level' was "nothing but confirmation of the UPA government's anti-people and pro-rich character," the CPI(M) said.

PTI