New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday took credit for the slash in petrol prices, asserting that it had asked the government to do everything possible to bring it down.
"The party has repeatedly said that Government should take all efforts to check the rise in oil prices as well as inflation. It`s a good decision and has given relief to common man," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.
Dwivedi said Congress was in favour of changing any policy which did not bring the desired result and benefit people "as policies are made in the interest of people." "At that time when it was argued that it`s not the government but the oil companies that have raised the price and they have the right to do it due to a decision (removing the Administered Price Mechanism), we have also said that policies are made in the interest of people and if there is a policy which does not bring the desired result or give succour to people, it can be changed," he said.
Asked whether the decision to slash petrol prices was taken under pressure from the allies or Congress or due to market realities, he said, "This decision, in whatever manner, is a good step as the party believes all possible steps should be taken to give relief to people. We should not go into how and why it (revision) was decided." Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, however, maintained that the government had no role either in the increase or decrease of petrol prices and the slash in petrol price only proves it.
PTI