'Centre will reduce fuel price before assembly elections': Mamata Banerjee attacks Centre

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed Central Government over rising fuel prices which have become one of heated political issues used by opposition parties to corner Central government. With assembly elections approaching in West Bengal, Banerjee on Monday said  Centre will reduce prices only for few days ahe of elections.

"y (BJP) are increasing LPG and diesel prices every day. It is a matter of concern. central government will only reduce prices for a few days when elections will be near," said Banerjee.

fuel prices have continued to rise for seventh consecutive day in India when retail prices have risen across country, due to price fluctuation in global markets and both crude and product prices seeing a big spike.

Petrol and diesel prices have gone up in national capital and stood at Rs 88.99 per litre and Rs 79.35 per litre, respectively on Monday. price of LPG cylinder (14.2 kg domestic cylinder) also increased by Rs 50 per unit yesterday, it will cost Rs 769 in national capital from today.

This is second price hike in month of February. oil marketing companies h increased price of n-subsidised LPG cylinders by Rs 25 in metro cities on February 4.

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Congress leer Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Centre over LPG domestic cylinder price hike in Delhi and said that government is 'looting' from public. Congress' units from various states have been raking issue of rising fuel prices to attack Central government.

Mhya Presh unit of Congress asked people to voluntarily observe a half-day shutdown across state on February 20 to protest rise in fuel prices. State Congress chief Kamal Nath, in a tweet that carried appeal for a half-day bandh said it was to wake up BJP-led state and Central governments from ir "deep slumber". Even Punjab unit of Congress, as well as that of Jammu and Kashmir, protested against rising fuel prices in ir respective states.

BJP Mhya Presh secretary Rajneesh Agrawal said state government h t increased VAT while ding that fuel prices have risen due to change in rates in international market.

Days ago, Samajwi Party MP Vishambhar Pras Nish asked Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Prhan in Rajya Sabha as to why price of fuel was higher in Ram’s India, compared to Sita’s Nepal and Ravana's Sri Lanka? To this, Prhan responded by saying that fuel prices cant be compared between countries due to its varied consumption rate. 

To prove his point, Union Minister cited an example of Kerosene which is priced higher in Sri Lanka and Nepal than India due to mass consumption re. He quoted  price of kerosene in India, which is Rs 32 per litre whereas it is Rs 59 per litre in Nepal and Rs 57 per litre in Lanka, as it is a mass-consumption commodity re.

(With inputs from ncies)

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