IOC resumes dynamic pricing, petrol near 5-year high in Delhi
New Delhi, May 14 : With the resumption of dynamic pricing system for transport fuels on Monday by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), petrol prices in the national capital shot up to 74.80 per litre.
The IOC had suspended dynamic pricing system for transport fuels for 19 days to "avoid creating unnecessary panic among the consumers".
In Delhi, petrol was priced at Rs 74.80 per litre on Monday, highest since September 2013, when it had hit Rs 76.06 a litre. The price was last changed on April 24 when it was at Rs 74.63 per litre.
In the other metropolitan cities of Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai also petrol prices were at multi-year high levels of Rs 77.50, Rs 82.65 and Rs 77.61 a litre on Monday.
The previous highs in these cities were Rs 78.03 (Kolkata, August 2014), Rs 83.62 (Mumbai, September 2013) and Rs 77.48 (Chennai, September 2013).
Apart from petrol prices, diesel also rose to a fresh record high after the last price movement on April 24. Prices of diesel on Tuesday, in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai were Rs 66.14, Rs 68.68, Rs 70.43 and Rs 69.79 per litre, respectively.
Prices did not change in the last 19 days, despite rise in international crude oil prices, which observers cited as a deliberate political move ahead of Karnataka polls. Brent crude oil is currently priced over $76 per barrel.
However, IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh on May 8, said the dymanic pricing was suspended temporarily despite a rise in international rates, to avoid panic among consumers.
"We have decided to temporarily moderate retail prices by not passing on the required increase as we believe the current international oil product prices are not supported by fundamentals. So we have decided to wait for a while," Singh had said, adding: "Passing them on to consumers will unnecessarily create panic."
This temporary relief to consumer seems to have come to an end with the rise in prices on Monday.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Abhishek attacks BJP over UCC impact, pending Kurmali language recognition
Jhargram (WB) (PTI): Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday attacked the BJP over the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the pending recognition of the Kurmali language, making the two issues central to his address at a rally in Gopiballavpur in Jhargram district.
Noting that the BJP promised in its manifesto to impose the UCC if voted to power in West Bengal, Banerjee claimed that it would adversely impact the members of the Scheduled Tribes by overriding their customs and practices.
He also accused the saffron party of trying to divide people along religious lines.
The TMC national general secretary also charged the central government with inaction on the demand to include the Kurmali language, spoken by a large number of people in several parts of the state including Jhargram district, in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He said the TMC government in West Bengal had written to the Centre two months ago seeking its inclusion, but no steps had been taken so far by the Narendra Modi government.
In its manifesto for Bengal, the BJP also promised to include Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made the same pledge during a poll rally in Purulia district.
Banerjee alleged that BJP leaders were trying to exploit the Kurmi community's sentiments and mislead people with false promises.
He cautioned women against filling forms for a proposed monthly assistance of Rs 3,000, alleging that no BJP-ruled state has implemented such a scheme despite similar assurances.
In contrast, he highlighted the state's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which women receive Rs 1,500 (general category) and Rs 1,700 (SC/ST) per month, irrespective of the number of beneficiaries in a family.
Around 70,000 women in the constituency are availing the benefit in the Gopiballavpur constituency, he said.
Urging voters to back Trinamool Congress in the election, Banerjee said the party guarantees the continuation of welfare schemes, noting the state spends around Rs 38,000 crore annually on Lakshmir Bhandar.
Banerjee also claimed that over 11,000 poor families in the constituency have received Rs 1.2 lakh each under the Banglar Bari housing scheme, and alleged that the Centre had contributed "not even 10 paise" in this regard.
He added that farmers and youth have also benefited from state-run assistance programmes.
Attacking the Centre over inflation, he referred to the rising prices of essential goods like LPG cylinders, petrol and essential commodities, to allege that people were being burdened by increased costs since the BJP had taken over at the Centre.
He also promised direct transfer of pending old-age pensions and expansion of healthcare services through block-level health camps.
Calling the election a fight to "teach the BJP a lesson", Banerjee appealed to voters to turn out in large numbers and ensure a decisive mandate in favour of the Trinamool Congress.
The elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
