While blaming the Centre for yet another hike announced on petroleum prices, Bharatiya Janata Party State general secretary Shivratan Sharma on Sunday said that the UPA Government has set a record in increasing petroleum prices.
“Petrol is being sold at a much higher price in the country compared to even America, Pakistan and Bangladesh,” he said while addressing a press conference here.
Sharma said that the country’s financial system has collapsed completely during the UPA rule. The Centre’s financial policies are directly responsible for the downslide in the rupee rates in the global currency market.
On the reported statement of Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily that the petroleum lobby uses strong arm techniques to exert pressure on the Ministry, he said that the issues warrants a high-level probe.
‘The names of persons who threaten the Ministry must be revealed’, Sharma said. Comparing the rates per litre of petrol sold in various countries, he said that it costs Rs 41.81 in Pakistan, Rs 44.80 in Bangladesh and Rs 42.82 in America while in India it is currently Rs 67.67, he said.
The Centre needs to carry out a national level review of its petroleum price determination policy, the party State General Secretary said. The State BJP meeting on June 20 would discuss plans for an agitation to be launched against the hike in petroleum prices, Sharma said.
Meanwhile, State BJP President Ramsevak Paikra in a statement here said that the Economist Prime Minister of the country had been unable to check the financial mess created by the Central Government.