Petro price hike: Oppn to stall parliament

Meetings planned to strategise protests and demand rollback

PTI | March 2, 2010


BJP workers protested against the petro product price hike face in New Delhi on Tuesday
BJP workers protested against the petro product price hike face in New Delhi on Tuesday

The issue of hike in fuel prices is expected to generate heat in parliament meeting on Wednesday after a four-day break.

This became clear with the opposition planning a series of meetings to strategise its protests and demand rollback in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

The Left parties will have a separate meeting followed by those with other "secular" parties, while the BJP and its allies will hold separate talks to decide how to go about to press their common cause.

Leaders like RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have declared that the entire opposition was together on the demand for rollback and would not allow parliament to function till the demand was met.

The parleys between opposition leaders assume significance against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ruling out any rollback, saying the economy has the capacity to absorb the increase without triggering inflationary pressure.

Incidentally, RJD, SP and BSP, opposing the hike are outside supporters of the ruling UPA without whose 47-member strong prop the Congress-led coalition could be walking on thin ice if the issue precipitates.

However, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, whose party is also seeking a rollback like the DMK, has raised the comfort level of the government.

Banerjee has scotched rumours that the sharp criticism of the price hike by her party has caused unease in the alliance with Congress and said the coalition would continue "despite obstacles".

Opposition parties, ranging from BJP to Left parties as also outside supporters to the UPA like Samajwadi Party and RJD, unitedly staged a walkout during Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's Budget speech in the Lok Sabha last week.

NCP has come out in support of measures taken by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and said the party will not take any decision that will affect the stability of the Congress-led coalition.

"We are part of the decision-making process....NCP will not take any decision that will affect the stability of the government. We will explain to our colleagues who have different views and try to convince them about the larger national interest," NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said.

Comments

 

Other News

V. M. Tarkunde: A legal luminary par excellence

14 Lawyers: Portraits from The Bar By Raju Ramachandran  Juggernaut, 248 pages, Rs. 799  

The Cost of Obesity

The latest episode of Checks and Balances focuses on the ticking time bomb of obesity in India, and Geetanjali Minhas of Governance Now spoke with a panel of experts. You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/mH

US-Iran deal: Path to peace or prelude to deeper regional quagmire?

In the midst of deep mistrust, the US and Iran are reported to have reached a framework deal for ending the West Asian conflict. But whether it will result in any meaningful breakthrough or pave the way for any lasting peace in the region, is in the realm of speculation.   During

Lived life, philosophy, spirituality and other enigmas

The Ashes Are Warm: Memories of a Lifetime Spent with UG Krishnamurti By Mahesh Bhatt and Sunita Pant Bansal Rupa Publications, 384 pages, Rs 495  

In Varanasi, fringe expansion vs. core heritage

For centuries, the urban framework of Varanasi was defined not just by its relationship with the sacred Ganga but by its multifaceted network of urban commons. Historic kunds, seasonal talabs (ponds), and open maidans served as the city’s basic ecological infrastructure. Th

What ails India`s skill development ecosystem

India’s skill development programmes were designed with a goal to make the young population ready with market-required skills and competencies, and to provide them with better employment opportunities. Yet the outcomes have fallen short of that goal: though over 1.6 crore individuals were trained acr





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter