Slash petrol, diesel prices by Rs 25, demands CPI(M)

NEW DELHI: A strong demand for bringing down the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 25 per litre and more financial assistance for rain-battered Tamil Nadu were among several issues raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, MB Rajesh (CPI-M) said with the international prices of crude oil crashing to a record low of 35 US dollars, there is need to drastically reduce the prices of petrol and diesel each by Rs 25 per litre.

P Nagrajan (AIADMK) sought Rs 5,000 crore for building 50,000 new houses in rain-battered Chennai. He also wanted financial assistance to those hit by the natural calamity in other areas of Tamil Nadu.

Jayprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) pleaded for giving statutory status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. He said the move would help give a fair deal to the backwards.

Yogi Adityanath (BJP) wanted government's intervention in the wake of a Supreme Court judgement that has closed 13,000 brick kilns in Uttar Pradesh.

Jagdambika Pal, also of the BJP, sought a fair deal to thousands of prisoners languishing in jails all over the country for years.