The decision of the central government to increase the diesel price by Rs. 5 per litre and the restriction that only one LPG Cylinder will be given in two months is another attack on the people.  While the people are already under heavy strain due to the rocketing prices of essential commodities, the present decision will only increase the misery of the aam admi. The government has also deciding for deregularisation of the prices of petroleum products, which will see another steep rice in prices.

The Left parties and the BJP has strongly protested the hike. CPI(M) has demanded  that this retrograde step should be immediately withdrawn. Not only the opposition parties, but even those parties like Trinamool Congress and SP have strongly opposed the hike. In many states protest demonstration has taken place with the effigy of the PM put on fire by the demonstrations.

The argument of the government is that the oil companies are in loss and the price is hike can not be avoided. But the following report published in certain papers exposes the government’s plea:

“The ONGC declared a net profit of Rs 25,123 crore for the year 2011-12. For the next quarter ending June 30, 2012, it has reported a further growth in profit of 48.4 per cent . The IOC has reported a net profit of Rs 4,265.27 crore for 2011-12.     “The Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) reported a net profit of Rs 911 crores. Interestingly,  for the last quarter of the fiscal, January-March 2012, its net profit increased by 312 per cent. The Bharat Petroleum has reported a net profit of Rs. 1,546.68 crore”.

All the people should come together to defeat this anti-people decision of the government.