CPI protests frequent rise in petrol price

PUDUCHERRY: CPI today hit out at the UPA government at the Centre for frequent rise in petrol prices leading to escalation in prices of essential commodities, affecting the common man.

Secretary of CPI's Puducherry State committee R.Viswanathan claimed in a release here today that fuel prices had been hiked more than 46 times since the UPA government assumed power in 2009.

Viswanathan said the Centre should reduce excise and customs duties on petroleum products and the right to fix the price should not be available for oil companies.

Instead of adopting these measures, Minister of State in PMO V.Narayanasamy was trying to fix the blame on the State government for the price spiral, he alleged.

Viswanathan also expressed concern over the continued detention of around 100 fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in Sri Lanka prisons.

The Centre remained a silent spectator to the sufferings of the fishermen, he alleged and wanted immediate intervention to ensure their release and recovery of impounded fishing vessels.