Hyderabad: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other party leaders on Tuesday took out a march riding a bullock cart to the State Assembly to protest against the hike in fuel prices in the General Budget.
After riding the bullock cart, Naidu, the main opposition leader in Andhra Pradesh,
switched over to a bicycle and pedalled his way to the legislature building. The
bullock cart ride was a part of protest organised by regional Telugu Desam Party
along with the Communist Party of India-Marxist. The other state legislators also
joined Naidu and pedalled their way to assembly to attend the session on bicycles.
India raised retail motor fuel prices by up to 7.75 percent last week, the first
hike since July last. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday (Feb. 26) restored
a 5 percent import tax on crude oil, which was removed in 2008 when global prices
were at record highs, as part of a broader effort to raise revenue and cut fiscal
deficit. The tax hikes on refined fuel and crude in the budget prompted opposition
protests in parliament, with parliamentarians walking out during the Union Finance
Minister's speech. Even some key allies of the Congress led government expressed
unhappiness over government's decision. India sets retail prices for fuel below
market rates to protect its citizens from higher prices and manage inflation.
The subsidy adds to New Delhi's fiscal burden. A recent government panel report
urged the freeing of controls over automotive fuels, though the government has
not taken any action as yet on the politically charged issue.
