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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Part rollback of petrol hike likely by end-May

Part rollback of petrol hike likely by end-May

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published Published on May 25, 2012   modified Modified on May 25, 2012
-The Times of India
 
Minutes after the Congress demanded relief from the steep hike in petrol price, state-run oil marketers on Thursday indicated they could reduce the price by the month-end if the rupee and international oil prices held steady. 

"Current trend indicates that prices can come down," IndianOil chairman R S Butola said. He was speaking just after Congress publicly asked for a reduction in the hike. 

"We are genuinely sensitive to the burden this hike will put on the aam aadmi. We hope within the parameters of the international economic situation, the government will evolve a modus vivendi which will provide some relief," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said. Oil minister Jaipal Reddy's hasty return from Turkmenistan is seen as signaling Congress's anxiety to secure some respite from the steep hike . 

Petrol price hike offends UPA allies 

The Congress's eagerness to side with the common man over the petrol price hike issue came against the backdrop of growing pressure from the opposition. Both BJP and Left have called for a Bharat bandh on May 31 to protest against the hike. The political backdrop increases the prospect of a rate cut, although both Butola and chairman of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Subir Roy Chowdhury said that any reduction would depend on how international prices behave. 

Roy Chaudhary also said, "Nobody has instructed us to do so (roll back price hike)", a comment which was seen to keep expectations in check and which can help government's effort to keep a distance from the unpopular decision. 

As opposition parties escalated their attack on the government, Congress refrained from launching an aggressive defence of the hike which, while being seen as inevitable, caught the party off-guard with its manner and timing. It whitewashed the positivity of the UPA dinner and was cynically dubbed the "Congress gift" on completion of three years in power. 

It also offended allies. Besides Trinamool boss Mamata Banerjee and DMK who have gone public with their grouse against the hike, NCP is also learnt to have lodged a strong protest with the Congress leadership. Sources said NCP has taken exception to not being consulted on the decision, as well as the quantum of the hike. 

Tewari underlined the tough economic situation and depreciation of rupee, and even referred to dismantling of the administrative price mechanism but, unlike in the past, did not seek to justify the hike strongly. Rather, he appeared keen to underline the "sensitivity" for consumers. 

The jump in petrol price put Congress's political programme in disarray. The party would have hoped that the unpopular decision would not clash with the positivity of UPA anniversary and definitely not on the eve of rival BJP's national executive where it proved ready fodder for an offensive against the Centre. 

Many leaders said the hike had virtually scuppered Congress's chances in the coming municipal elections in states like Punjab and UP, while giving a major campaign plank in assembly elections later this year. Gujarat CM Narendra Modi's sharp rhetoric showed BJP will target the principal rival over "unpopular" decisions in the December polls. 

What rankled Congressmen was the absence of the petroleum minister to buffer the party from the rival offensive. While senior minister Jaipal Reddy was in Turkmenistan, his junior R P N Singh too was away. 

The optics apart, Congress was concerned that the government had not mastered the art of taking unpopular decisions when the rising crude prices over four years and a dwindling world economy had made frequent hikes inevitable. It was felt that government could have staggered the price hike over months instead of letting the losses accumulate to a point that only a steep hike could rescue the oil companies.

The Times of India, 25 May, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Part-rollback-of-petrol-hike-likely-by-end-May/articleshow/13464539.cms


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