Thaindian News

Agartala, June 25 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led ruling Left Front in Tripura Saturday called for a 12-hour shutdown in the state Monday to protest against the hike in fuel prices.

Left Front spokesperson Gautam Das told reporters here that by increasing prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, the central government “has made the greatest assault on common people”.

“The dawn-to-dusk strike would be observed Monday to protest the hike in prices of fuel and to demand withdrawal of the decision,” said Das, flanked by other Left leaders.

“At a time when people are burdened with increasing price of all essential commodities, general inflation and food inflation have remained unrestrained, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has increased the fuel price,” he said.

Quoting government records, he said that the UPA government during the past one year has increased petrol prices nine times and of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas twice.

“Diesel price increase would be a cascading affect in many areas, including production sector,” Das said adding that few months back the central government has increased the prices of natural gas forcing consequential increase of tariff of electricity generated from the gas based power projects

The Left parties said that reducing the customs and excise duties on the petroleum products, the prices of the various fuels can be checked giving relief to the people.

The central government Friday increased the price of diesel by Rs.3 per litre, kerosene by Rs.2 a litre and cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas [LPG]) by Rs.50 per cylinder.