With election time around the corner, the opposition party BJP is leaving no stone unturned to take on United Progressive Alliance (UPA). BJP has fired salvo on the UPA government for reducing the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) but not touching the prices of other petroleum products like petrol and diesel which are used by the common man.
Speaking with Business Standard former petroleum minister and senior BJP leader Ram Naik said, “Since July, crude oil prices have come down from $ 147 to $ 50 as on yesterday and central government has reduced the prices of ATF, five times in this period but not even once during this period have they considered a reduction in the prices of fuels like petrol, diesel and LPG which are used by common man”.
The ATF which use to cost around Rs. 73. 67 per litter in July now costs only Rs. 40.69 and petrol costs Rs. 55.07 per litre. “We demand, prices of petrol should be reduced by Rs. 5, diesel by Rs. 3 and LPG reduced by Rs.50. We only demand some part of senstivity which the UPA government is showing towards the aviation sector should be spared for common man as well,” he added.
On Thursday youth wing activists of BJP carried out motorcycle morcha on petroleum companies headquarters in South Mumbai demanding they should be given ATF to run their vehicles. But if central government doesn’t reduces prices of petroleum products in near future, we will intensify our agitation, warned Naik.
When contacted, spokesperson of the state Congress, Anant Gadgil said, “Currently the elections are going on in six states and hence the central government ca not reduce the prices of petrol and diesel as the model code of conduct is in existance. And I hope BJP understands that the aviation industry is in deep trouble not only in India but all over the world. ATF constitutes a large chunk of the cost of the aviation industry and the government has reduced prices of ATF to ensure that the jobs of the common man are protected and not just to help aviation companies or reduce aviation fares.”