Trinamool opposes Parikh Commission recommendations

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday opposed increase in the prices of LPG and and other petroleum products recommended by an expert panel headed by former Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh.

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday opposed increase in the prices of LPG and and other petroleum products recommended by an expert panel headed by former Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh,saying a new burden of raised prices would hit the common people hard.

TC chief Mamata Banerjee said the common people had already been affected too much by the food inflation to withstand a new burden of increased prices.

“There has been an abnormal increase in the prices of essential commodities and I am against a fresh increase in the prices of petroleum products,especially LPG,” Banerjee said.

Story continues below this ad

She said there was no need to implement all the recommendations of the Parikh panel.

“Subsidised prices are alright. Subsidy is given by governments in developing countries keeping the interest of common people in mind,” she said.

Yesterday,a prime minister-appointed panel,which included members Finance Secretary Ashok Chawala and Oil Secretary S Sundareshan,submitted a report to Petroleum Minister Murli Deora suggesting freeing petrol and diesel prices and called for raising LPG rates by a steep Rs 100 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs 6 a litre. The TC chief said since the sales tax on petroleum products in West Bengal is higher than that of other states,the suggested price increase would hit people in the state particularly.

She pointed out that prices of essential commodities in West Bengal have been ruling “very high” due to the state government’s inability to take action against illegal hoarding under the Essential Commodities Act.

Story continues below this ad

The state government,she alleged,is content only with blaming the Centre for the rise in prices.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram