New Delhi, Mar 4 (ANI): Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma on Thursday slammed the opposition for playing petty politics on the issue of price rise.

On the sidelines of a conference organised by the All India Management Association, Sharma said, “We are dependent on imports for oil and gas. If you look at the subsidies that are given, the burden, which is there on the state exchequer is massive.”

“People are talking about one rupee hike, that too on excise. But you should look at the subsidies they are worth tens and thousands of crores,” he added.

Sharma further said, “I feel that the opposition is being irresponsible and is playing partisan politics. Responsible political leadership would acknowledge that the Indian oil companies, the public sector Navratnas (nine prestigious public sector enterprises), have to be given some support.”

“I don’t think that is going to make that much of a difference,” he claimed.

Sharma said that he would take up the issue continuation of subsidized export credit to sectors like leather and engineering goods, with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Petrol prices have risen about 6 percent and diesel prices by 7.75 percent after the government increased factory-gate taxes and import duties on the fuels as announced in the General Budget for 2010-2011, which stressed on fiscal prudence to cut a wide deficit. (ANI)