Tells Centre to cut oil price by Rs 10
A Central relief of Rs 2.50 on sky-rocketing petro prices was less than peanuts for the toiling masses of the country, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said asking the Narendra Modi Government to reduce oil prices by at least Rs 10.
“The Government is giving the people a small relief when rising petroleum prices has driven the market crazy. Every item in the market: From food to other products of daily is on fire. A relief of Rs 2.50 is but a joke,” Mamata said adding the Centre would have done the least by reducing the price by at least Rs 10 per litre.
“You (the Centre) have imposed huge production cess on petroleu driving the market crazy,” Mamata said adding a reduction of Rs 10 at this juncture was the least the Government could have done. She was reacting to the appeal made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to the State Governments to reduce the oil prices proportionately after the Central relief.
Bengal had already reduced oil price by Rs 1 about a month ago.
Attacking the Modi Government for making loud promises but only adding to people’s misery, Mamata said “instead of giving relief to the people they are trying to terrorise the people.”
Referring to the encounter deaths in UP and lynching of minorities in other States she asked “why will the people be afraid of you?” adding “this Government is only trying to rule by terror. “A true Government is one that adds value to people’s lives and not adds fear to it. In India we have high regard for joint family system. But in such families the members live with each other peacefully. But here you (centre) are trying to create schism among them.”
Attacking the Centre for ruining the Indian economy through demonetization she said “they imposed note bandi which yielded nothing. It only filled the coffers of some politicians and political parties.
“The situation is that the entire business is in doldrums and the businessmen are complaining of a slumped market. This is what note bandi has done to us.”