Left parties flay fuel price hike, to protest

Left parties on Friday night said they will organise nationwide protests against the hike in prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, saying the goverment's announcement was "completely unacceptable".

Left parties on Friday night said they will organise nationwide protests against the hike in prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, saying the goverment's announcement was "completely unacceptable".

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CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the sops announced in terms of reduction in duties were not sufficient.

"Government had committed to zero duty on petroleum products when it deregulated their prices. It has not stuck to its promise. Instead, it is imposing a burden on the people. It is completely unacceptable," he said.

He said Left parties will organise nationwide protests.

Government hiked the price of diesel by Rs 3 a litre, kerosene Rs 2 a litre and cooking gas by a steep Rs 50 a cylinder to raise Rs 21,000 crores, and slashed customs and excise duties on petroleum products, sacrificing Rs 49,000 crore a year.