CPI demands rollback of duties on petroleum products

CPI today demanded that the government rollback the imposition of duties on petroleum products immediately, saying it will have adverse impact on the people who are already suffering due to rising food prices.

CPI on Sunday demanded that the government rollback the imposition of duties on petroleum products immediately, saying it will have adverse impact on the people who are already suffering due to rising food prices.

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Party National Secretary D Raja also alleged that the Budget 2010-11 has "neglected" the agriculture sector despite tall claims by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the UPA government’s top priority was agriculture.

"The Finance Minister should roll back the duties imposed on petroleum products. He should do it immediately... The government should have maintained some sort of transparency on the issue," he said.

"On Thursday, a day before the Budget, the Parliament was debating price rise and the government assured that it was taking steps to contain it.

"The next day it imposes duties on petroleum products. The government should have been honest," he said.

The Rajya Sabha MP also said the Budget reflected the government’s policies of following the new liberalised economy.

Raja said the government should also take steps to contain inflation, which has led to skyrocketing of food prices in the country.