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After suggesting that the petrol pumps should close by 8pm every evening as an austerity measure, Oil Minister Veerappa Moily now seems to be chewing his words. Here is a quick look at the reactions his statement drew:
M Veerappa Moily, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas
It is not our idea. It is an idea which is coming from public and others. No decision has been taken to keep petrol pumps dry during any part of the day.
P Chidambaram, Finance Minister
It's not a government suggestion, but one which had come from the public as the Oil Minister has himself clarified
Yashwant Sinha, former Finance Minister
The country now is facing the situation of economic emergency. Doing this will cause more panic about the economic situation.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon
Will Veerappa Moily's call for shutting down petrol stations at 8pm really reduce consumption? NO. What about job losses because of this? #@kiranshaw
Gurudas Dasgupta, leader, Communist Party of India (CPI)
on Monday said that the plan to close petrol pumps during night will be curfew like situation. Such steps will lead the country towards economic emergency. He added that the government must get petrol from Iran.
Derek O'Brien, Trinamool Congress
They are making a laughing stock of themselves. Since this is such a bizarre suggestion (to close down petrol pumps), let me make another bizarre suggestion. Why don't they instead shut down government offices for half the day, they would be saving billions of rupees because this is such a corrupt government
D Raja, CPI
The government has come up with such a proposal out of frustration, the government is frightened because they have failed to manage economy.
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena
Plan to close petrol pumps during night will lead to an increase in black marketing as consumption will continue to be the same.
Jagdambika Pal, Congress
Closing of petrol pumps will make the consumers realise the crisis of oil and they will ultimately lessen the amount of oil used.
with Wire inputs
