Diesel price hike gigantic fraud on people: CPI(M)

NEW DELHI: Describing the hike in diesel price as a "gigantic fraud" on people, CPI(M) today sought to use the government decision to target Trinamool Congress alleging its stand that it was not consulted was "hypocrisy and double standard".

Party Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said the Mamata Banerjee-led party was using the absence of its Minister Mukul Roy in the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting, which took the decision, as a "tool of convenience" to avoid criticism.

"Trinamool is part of the government. It is equally responsible for this hike. They have to explain why Roy was absent from the meeting of the CCPA of which he is a member. They using it as a tool of convenience. "

"It is hypocrisy and double standard. They are running with the hare and hunting with the hounds," she told PTI.

In a statement, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said government was committing a "gigantic fraud" on the Indian people and the hike will have a cascading inflationary impact imposing greater burdens on the already suffering people.

Asked about media reports that the opposition of allies like Trinamool and Samajwadi Party's opposition to the hike will be restricted to manageable level, she said one cannot compare both the parties as Trinamool is part of the government while the other is not.

She said the Left parties will organise country-wide protests demanding the immediate rollback of the decision to hike diesel price and restricted supply of subsidised cooking gas as it is a "cruel blow" to millions of households.

Asked whether state governments could cushion the hike by cutting tax, Karat said the main culprit is the central government and it's their responsibility. "The focus should be at the Centre," she said.