In a unanimous resolution, the UP Assembly asked the Centre to slash the price of diesel making it at par with international crude oil prices and pass on the benefit to farmers of the state.
The BJP staged a walkout and stayed away from the House proceedings saying that while the state was incapable of solving its problems, it was looking towards the Centre for help.
The resolution was moved by the leader of Opposition, Swami Prasad Maurya on the initiative of Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan. He was supported by all the parties except the BJP. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey read out the resolution and it was subsequently passed.
The issue came up during the Question Hour when Suresh Kumar Khanna (BJP) demanded a reduction in the fare of government buses as the prices of diesel had gone down by Rs 15 to Rs 19 in the last 2 years. He also alleged that the government was charging around 19 per cent tax on diesel.
Transport minister Yasheer Shah said that the Transport department has reduced prices by 1paise per km per person. When the BJP suggested that it should be reduced by at least Rs 3, Shah countered saying that prices of crude oil has come down in the international market, has the Union Rail minister reduced the train fare.
later, Parliamentary Affairs minister intervened and said that a proposal should be sent to the Centre urging it to bring the prices of diesel at par with international rate of crude oil, so that farmers and the people of the country can be benefited.
The resolution was immediately supported by the leader of the Opposition who asked the Speaker to take it up. “Price of crude oil has come down from $150 to $30 per barrel, yet the Centre was not passing on the benefit to the people which is ‘unfortunate,” he said.
later, the Speaker passed the resolution seeking that diesel price be brought at par with the international crude oil.