Maharashtra Congress leader demands fuel price roll back

Mumbai, May 24 (ANI): A Maharashtra Congress leader has asked the central government to take immediate steps to roll back the fuel price hike and also reduce the prices of other essential commodities that are commonly used by the Aam Aadmi.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, of India, Guru.S.Nair, Vice Chairman of the Cultural Cell of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), expressed his dismay over the hike in the price of petrol and also over the high price of essential commodities, and questioned the need for India to raise the fuel price when countries in the immediate neighbourhood were not doing so, and if they were doing so, the price rise was not as high as it was in India.

"I was shocked to note that the Union Ministry (of Petroleum) has decided to increase the price of petrol. I am a common man and my entire family is depending on my earnings. Our neighbouring countries, who are members of the SAARC, are also buying petrol from other countries and using these fuels. But, compared to our country, the price (of fuel) in these nations is very low," said Nair in his letter.

He further said that the government was imposing a high tax on fuels, and added that if this tax component of hike was used to ease the common man's burden, everyone would be relieved.

Urging the government not to put unnecessary pressure on the common man for the sake of the loss making oil marketing companies, Nair also said that steps should be taken to bring back the black money allegedly stashed in banks Switzerland.

He said that this "black money" could be used to ease the financial burden of oil marketing companies. (ANI)