FUEL PRICE HIKE

FUEL PRICE HIKE
The opposition parties on Saturday 26th June,2010 hit the streets in many states enforcing strikes in kerala,orissa and west Bengal, in protest against the governments decision to hike fuel prices. The hartal called by the LDF on Saturday was total and peaceful in kerala. Shops, business establishments and banks remained closed. Government offices too recorded thin attendance.KSRTC too did not operate service from any depot. The Hartal supporters staged marches.
There was no disruption in train services, but rail passengers from outside the state. Who alighted at different stations in the state had a tough time reaching their destnation. Air passengers too had a similar experience.
BJP observed’protest day’ across the state on Saturday objecting to the hike in the price of patrol,diesel,kerosene and cooking gas. Demonstrations and meeing were organised at the local level in different parts of the state.
The increase in the prices of patrol, diesel and LPG will have a cascading effect. It will result in the prices of all essential commodities going up.With of inflation already high,the decision to increase the prices of petroleum products will add to the misery of the common man.
The prices of all essential commodities will increase due to a rise in the transportation costs.For senior citizens, life has become unbearable as they have no source of income and the interest rates on bank deposists have come down. Food prices have already gone up. The common man, for whome the so-called high growth rate has little significance is bound to be affected badly by the fuel price hike.
Prof. John Kurakar