New Delhi: Under attack from opposition and
key UPA ally Trinamool Congress for the move to hike petro
products, Congress on Friday said the government must have been
"constrained" to take the decision.
Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters "we
believe that government must have been constrained to take
this decision and will ensure that the impact is cushioned to
the maximum possible to the disadvantaged section."
Natarajan, who faced a volley of questions, reminded
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee that as Railway
Minister she was also a party to the decision as the
government decides any matter as a "collective court".
"I have no information what Mamata Banerjee has said.
This is governmment decision I believe government takes the
decision as collective court. Naturally, it is a decision of
council of ministers", she said.
Steering clear of questions about possible rollback of
the hike and whether party chief Sonia Gandhi had approved the
decision, Natarajan said "I am speaking for the party and not
the government. The decision has been taken by the
government."
To a question about its impact on prices, she said "we
believe government has taken all these issues into
consideration before going for a decision."
Asked whether the decision showed that the government
does not care for the common man, she said "it is unfair to
make such comments about the government which has the best
intetrests of people in mind.
"We have always been concernd over the welfare of common
man. We are very much aware of the effect of any economic
measure like the fuel price hike.", she said in reply to
another question.
Hike in petro prices `anti-people`: Paswan
LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan today
termed as "anti-people" the Centre`s decision to hike prices
of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.
"The hike in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG is
anti-people ... It will add to problems facing the people
because of the price spiral and further raise inflation,"
Paswan said here.
PTI
