New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday said she was not ‘happy’ with the fuel price hike as it puts pressure on the common man, but her Trinamool Congres would not withdraw from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
‘My party does not support this hike. This puts all the pressure on the people. Government should reconsider the decision to increase the price of diesel, kerosene and LPG,’ she told reporters here.
Saying the rise in prices of diesel and kerosene will directly hit the poor, Banerjee, however, added: ‘Our crucial support to the government will continue and we don’t want to (over)throw the government.’
Noting that Trinamool Congress has 19 MPs, Banerjee said: ‘We can give our views. But the government is in a majority. In a democracy, there is some system. And within the system, we will raise our voice as it is not nice to put so much pressure on common people.’
‘I expressed my views to Finance Minister (Pranab Mukherjee) yesterday (Thursday). I will again express my views to him. This (hike) will result in increasing the prices of other commodities,’ she added.
The Indian government Friday freed petrol from administrative control and hiked the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas in a major policy reform that will help improve its fiscal position and release funds for other programmes.
Petrol will now be costlier by Rs 3.50 per litre, diesel by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder.
