Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly today passed by voice vote a resolution asking the Centre to ensure reduction of diesel prices in proportion to global crude oil rates, amid walkout by BJP MLAs.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Suresh Khanna whether the state government will lower the fares of UPSRTC buses and those under its contract in proportion to the global fall in prices of fuel, Transport Minister Yasir Shah said fares have been reduced at the rate of one paisa per km since last November.
The minister said going by the fall in the crude prices in the international markets, diesel should be sold at Rs 11.75 per litre.
Raising supplementaries, Khanna said commuters should get at least 50 per cent benefit of the lowered prices while Leader of Opposition and BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya said that the state government should have taken an initiative with the central government in this regard.
To which, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said if the House agrees, a unanimous resolution be passed and sent to the Centre which would be beneficial for farmers and countrymen.
Khanna accused the government of blaming the Centre for everything and said it (government) had two options left, either to lower bus fares or pack its bags.
The BJP MLA later walked out with his party legislators.
Maurya also stressed that the resolution to this effect should be passed today and sent to the central government.
Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said the resolution passed by the House by voice vote later would be sent to the central government.
Earlier, as soon as House assembled this morning, BJP MLAs raised slogans in the Well on the law-and-order situation in the wake of the murder of a VHP leader in Agra yesterday as well as shooting of two policemen. The Speaker asked them to raise the matter under the relevant rules.
