Fuel price hike was inevitable: Mehbooba

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has supported the fuel price hike saying it was inevitable considering the global trends.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has supported the fuel price hike saying it was inevitable considering the global trends. ‘‘Time has come for politicians to start shedding inhibitions about taking hard decisions that have a major bearing on the country’s economy,’’ the MP told The Indian Express.

Mehbooba is the first UPA ally to lend support to the Prime Minister on an issue that has fuelled anger even among the allies, significantly the Left parties. Questioning the stand taken by the other parties, Mehbooba said: ‘‘How long could we continue to put off this decision? This attitude in the past has resulted in today’s steep hike.’’

However, Mehbooba’s support has a rider: She expects the government to divert part of the revenue generated by the price hike to social security schemes and healthcare facilities. ‘‘At least 10 per cent of the revenue should be kept aside for schemes like old age pension and healthcare.’’

Mehbooba, who said she would be writing to the PM about these proposals, said that by ‘‘earmarking small part of the oil money for welfare schemes, the government can defuse much of the public anger’’.

Mehbooba had earlier spoken out against the OBC reservations during a meeting of the UPA coordination committee. ‘‘The youth of this country did not expect this decision from you,’’ she reportedly told the PM. ‘‘I have strong reservations against the quota system since it has not solved the problem in all these years.’’ she said.