Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday said that hike in the petrol and diesel prices will stock inflationary pressure and hit the common man the most.
This, according to the NC spokesperson, was stated by the party’s Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal at Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.
Earlier he met Party’s Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq and congratulated him on assuming the office. Among others Provincial Secretary Showkat Ahmed Mir, Provincial Vice Presidents Syed Tauqeer Ahmed, Ahsan Pardesi, YNC Provincial President Salman Ali Sagar, Minority Wing organizer JS Azad, Provincial Jt Secretary GN Bhat were also present on the occasion.
Expressing concern over the sudden hike in petrol, diesel, LPG prices Kamaal said, “Petrol prices have gone up to Rs 97.01 per litre as against Rs 96.21. Diesel prices have increased from Rs 87.47 per litre to Rs 88.27. LPG price levels are also at record levels. This monster of fossil fuel hike has again been let loose to haunt the poor and middle class families after the election time hiatus of 137 days. Prior to the elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab, the Centre had decided to defer any hikes in prices of fuel or cooking gas, but after the polls, the BJP has revealed its true colours,” he said.
Kamaal said the ruling dispensation has uncorked the demons of fuel price hikes on the unsuspecting masses. “Our apprehensions on this account proved right. We had already said that the ruling dispensation has no concern for our artisans, tourism players, manufacturers, transporters, hawkers, BPL, Salaried, and middle class income groups. People have been taken for a ride. This measure will extract whatever savings were left with our mothers and sisters. Inflation is already skyrocketing. Now when the monster of price has again been set free the cost of living will also witness a spur,” he said.
When questioned on the inhuman price hike, the government, Kamaal said, points out an increase in the internal rates of crude oil. “The question that arises here is how was the government then able to put a thaw on price hike despite fluctuations in prices of crude fossil fuels for all these months. Why is it that undue measure has been undertaken eleven days after the election results of five States. If the government was able to put hold on price hike for 137 days why can’t they do it now?” he said.
The measure, he said, will push the already battered economy of Jammu and Kashmir to the point of no return. “People who live by hand to mouth and eke out their living from humble vocations will take a major brunt. The move is highly condemnable, I hope the J&K government comes forward to guard our people from the ill effects of this drastic fuel price hike,” he added.
