Congress indicates partial rollback of petrol price

With UPA allies crying foul over petrol price hike, Congress on Friday indicated that there might be a "partial rollback" of the hike in the next few days and urged the government to provide "healing touch" to common man.

With UPA allies crying foul over petrol price hike, Congress on Friday indicated that there might be a "partial rollback" of the hike in the next few days and urged the government to provide "healing touch" to common man.

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"Congress party is very concerned about the price rise and calls upon the government to take measures, and hopes the government will look into the matter very seriously," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

He said the party believes that the government will not only take efforts to control the price rise but also consider other ways and means to give relief to people, adding such a "healing touch" and urgent measures are required.

A senior party leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, made it clear that the partial rollback of petrol price will probably happen once Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returns from abroad tomorrow. The leader also said the consultations with other UPA allies on this issue will also take place after Singh's arrival.

At the AICC briefing, Singhvi, however, refused to go into the specifics of the measures that are likely to be taken in this regard.

"I am not going into the specifics. We are not here to fetter the jurisdiction and work of the government. Whichever means has the desired effect will be highly desirable. But we leave it to the discretion of the government to decide these steps," he said.

The Congress spokesperson also found nothing wrong in Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's assertion over the issue.

"I read her and other allies' comments as sensitive concerns and certainly not as anything divisive," he said.

Shingvi also assured that "every element of the coalition will be heard with understanding, seriousness and compassion".

His reactions came after Trinamool Congress, the largest ally of UPA, strongly protested the unilateral petrol price hike today and threatened to pull out of the ruling coalition.

"Our withdrawal of support may result in fall of the government. But since the Prime Minister is away, we want to discuss with him and have sought an appointment with him," Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.

"Discussions are required before a vital decision is to be taken," she said after her party's parliamentary wing submitted a resolution to her calling to quit the UPA.