The increase in the petrol prices is likely to make the Monsoon session more turbulent.
It is likely to cast a shadow in the Government’s plan to get the Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha.
While the Food Bill is scheduled for debate in the Upper House on Monday, the Land Bill is likely to be considered by the elders on Tuesday.
Food and Consumer Affairs Minister K.V. Thomas and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are in talks with leaders of various parties in the Rajya Sabha for smooth passage of the Bills.
The Opposition members, in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, were unhappy with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s response to the economic situation.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party members were upset over the Prime Minister’s remarks that the behaviour of the Opposition in Parliament was a reason for lack of confidence of the investors.
The top leadership of the BJP will meet on Monday to decide the floor strategy. The party had boycotted the House soon after the clarifications by the Prime Minister on his statement.
Though the Prime Minister had indicated in his speech that measures like increasing oil prices may have to be taken, the Opposition is blaming the “financial mismanagement” of the Centre for the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
“This is the sixth increase in the price of petrol in the last three months. The price of diesel has been increased on the monthly basis of 50 paise per litre and a steeper increase is expected after the Parliament session,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau said in a statement.
The party said, unable to check the falling value of the rupee, the UPA Government was resorting to successive increases in the fuel prices.
“This will only add to the burden on the people by stoking inflation and rising prices of all commodities,” it added.
CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta said the country had never seen such an irresponsible Government. He alleged that the UPA Government was “totally unconcerned” about the question of rising prices.
“It (increase in oil prices) will increase the transport cost. Market will be inflamed, prices will further rise. The repeated increase in the prices of diesel may ultimately make the public transport system totally unviable. Petrol price increase will escalate the cost of fertilisers and medicines,” he said.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in