SAD rejects steepest ever hike in price of diesel and LPG

FOPSIA and BJP Leader Manoranjan Kalia too condemn hike

Chandigarh/Ludhiana, September 13, 2012: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today outrightly rejected the steep hike in the price of diesel and LPG and termed it as a “deliberate punishment” being meted out to the citizens of country for raising their voice against Congress party for looting the exchequer of the country by multi lakh crore scams. He said that diesel would have cascading effect on inflation already piercing roof.

In a statement issued from party headquarter, the SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that there was no justification for steep hike in the prices of oil products with NYMEX crude hitting the rock bottom at $94 per barrel. He said that the formula of multi-national oil companies for calculating the market price of diesel and LPG was totally opaque as they were putting the burden of their inefficiency, unreasonable refining margins, bonus, perquecites besides unreasonable dividend and profit on the common man already grinding under record price hike of essential commodities.

Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal had been demanding a constitution of Joint Parliamentary Committee to determine the cost of oil products but Congress led UPA government was dragging its feet as transparent formula would hit the coffers of oil companies thereby that of Congress party itself.

Adding, he said that Congress cannot befool the public citing the loss of oil companies as latest quarterly balance sheets of the oil companies’ show that these companies were sitting on Rs One lac crore collective reserves that they have collected by them by fleecing the pocket of common masses.

Badal said that by hiking the prices of LPG the Congress led UPA government has deliberately targeted middle class for punishment as it was most vociferous against ruling party in anti-corruption campaign throughout the country. He said that the voice of middle class against corruption cannot be suppressed by such in human policies of Congress led UPA government as people have already made up their mind to say final Goodbye to unholy alliance of Congress led UPA government. He said that six cylenders a year would bring back the ration era of Congress party.

Demanding immediate roll back of unreasonable  and steepest ever hike in the price of diesel, Badal said that diesel price hike was targeted against Punjab and Punjabis as it would hit farmers and the transporters most, both being pre-dominantly Punjabis.

Badal said that Congress led UPA government has no business to raise the price of diesel till it links the MSP of agriculture products with wholesale price index.

He said that by freezing the MSP of wheat and raising the price of diesel, the Congress led UPA government has exposed its anti-farmer anti Punjabi face.

Calling for immediate roll back of price of all oil products, Badal said that Shiromani Akali Dal would continue to protest till Congress led UPA government reverses its anti-people decision.

Meanwhile, Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association (FOPSIA) president , Badish K. Jindal has strongly condemned steep hike in the price of diesel. In a statement here today, he said the industry of the state would suffer heavily due to locational disadvantage. He opined that cost of transportation would be increased heavily with the recent hike in the price of diesel. Besides, the input cost would get increase after use of diesel in generator sets during acute power cuts in Punjab.

Adding, Jindal sought that the hike in diesel price should be rolled back with immediate effect in the larger interest of the industry.

Jalandhar (City Air News): BJP national executive Member and party’s state spokesman Manoranjan Kalia has also condemned the hike. He has demanded roll back of the price hike. He said the rice in diesel price will further ise inflation, and even the freight charges and bus fares will increase in the future. It would affect the pocket of a common man and domestic budget. Major sufferers would be the peasantry, he said.

In another statement, BJP (Media Cell) Punjab convener Rajat Kumar Mohindru said the hike would affect the industry, agriculture sector and and common people.