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The issue was raised in the House as soon as it met, with Samajwadi Party and Left parties leading the attack on the government for raising the price of petrol by Rs four and diesel by Rs two. They were joined by members from BJP, Shiv Sena, RJD, BSP and TDP.
The furore forced two adjournments during the Question Hour. The House was later adjourned for the day when it met after the lunch recess.
Prior to the last adjournment, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora rejected the demands for roll back and said the suggestions would be considered "suitably" if there is a fall in the international crude prices.
"In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs four against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs two against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)."
He said the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.
Earlier, the House witnessed uproar with non-Congress parties, joined by government's two key allies, DMK and Trinamool Congress, criticising the hike.
DMK member T R Baalu was more strident in his criticism of the decision, saying he "strongly condemns" it. "This government is not a unitary government but is supported by DMK and Trinamool Congress. It (hike in prices) is not at all good. It should have been discussed with party leaders as also in the Cabinet," Baalu said.
"I strongly condemn the act. It should not recur. I am saying this as a close friend of Congress," he said adding that it was "nowhere justifiable" as the action has come a day before the Budget Session was to start.
He said, "It is an alarming situation that the government headed by Manmohan Singh and supported by Sonia Gandhi and 'Kazhaignar' (Karunanidhi) (is) taking such decision...(it) is not at all good. It should have been at least discussed with party leaders, if not in Cabinet."
Trinamool member Sudip Bandopadhyay said the decision should be revoked. "We understand that international crude prices have gone up. But this (price rise) will affect common people," he said.
Accusing the government of "violating parliamentary propriety", BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the move to hike petrol and diesel prices "raises suspicion as to which companies will be benefited by this decision."
"The government has been saying that the public sector oil companies have been making profits and giving dividends to it. Then why this secrecy," she asked.
Swaraj attacked the Congress for "betraying" the common people and added that only withdrawal of the hike could resolve matters. Akali Dal's Rattan Singh Ajnala said the new government had given a "big gift" to the people on the first day of the budget session.
Independent member Inder Singh Namdhari said about 3,000 farmers of Palamau in Jharkhand had written to the President seeking permission to commit suicide because government has done nothing to save them from the drought conditions prevailing in the region for the past three years.
"You have only added salt to their injury by increasing diesel prices," he said. Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete, M Thambidurai (AIADMK), Narahari Mahato (Forward Bloc) and Shailendra Kumar (SP) demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike. They said dams, reservoirs and ponds have dried up and there was no other option for the poor but to depend on diesel for irrigating their fields using pumps.
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PRICE HIKE HIKES GENERAL COST OF LIVING AND POOR ARE VICTIMS. Instead of hiking fuel cost which gives room for increase in cost of living and agitation for pay hike, strikes etc, let the government get all illgotten money from SWISS BANKS. Besides let Lokayukta be given powers to process cases. This gives sufficient funds and make country prosper also.B S GANESH, BANGALORE
How are we going to fund the states' expenses if our MPs do not know from where payment to them to disturb the proceedings in our parliament comes from?
Prices of commodities are determined by market forces. It should never be a political decision. However, the government should regulate methods and channels of distribution so that there is no price gouging at various levels of distribution.
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A lot of fools are going to have a great time bashing the Cong led government for the fuel price hike. Would be even greater fun when the government removes all control and simply attaches our pump prices to international oil prices. We do not make the oil we need, fools! We import it, and have no control over how much it costs. So shut up and bear with it.
no question of roll back, roll back never happens. whenever there is a news that price rise in a perticular commodity will not be there, i immediately can understand that in a week time there will be a hick comming.. enjoy the price rise. why any body is worried, when the leaders to whom this job have been given, they are not worried, why should others!!
We deserve Cong. Govt. for Aam Aadmi sake, prices of all essentials gone through roof, sadly inflation is negative i am sure this is just b'se our PM is economist. Now who cares for common men. will Mamta Banerji ask Govt. to roll it back? i doubt. Left parties support is missed now. no one to listen. Bank Managers getting slapped. High official caught with crores of Rs. this is Cong. led Govt. in power why do not we name our country as Rajiv Gandhi?
The petroleum companies are making losses. The cost of crude is high, so the petrol price hike is fully justified. Lets start behaving responsibly. It is true that we had a price cut before elections, but did we not know at that time that it would be rolled back after? Of course, only stupid people would not have figured that out, and ours is a nation full of intelligent people.
How much of this increase will go as taxes to the government? Is the complete amount going to the oil producing companies? Let the Gove clarify this.
We should thank madam and her slaves for the fantastic gift. More..and more expected..
COngies and upa are clever. They reduced prices just before elections and foolish people voted for them. Now back in power, aam aadmi is of least concern these traitors. Indians are paying for the mistake of foolish people who voted for congress.
Why roll back? Now that the elections are over, who cares, congress can fool the Indians, as they have been doing for all these decades even since Independence! When the International fule price was a 140Dollars, the perol price was 49 rupees, and not the International price is only 70, and the congress govt. has no shame to look at this high price unjustified!
THE CONGRESS PARTY DOSENT NEED ANY ALLIES AS NOW THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN AND ABOUT THREE PARTIES LIKE THE R.J.D OF LALOO THE S.J.P OF MULYAM AND B.S.P OF MAYAWATHI ARE THE FENCE SITTERS THEY ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO SUPPORT THE CONGRESS AND GET INTO THE GOVERNMENT WITH MINISTERIAL PORTFOLIOS AND MINT MONEY . THE CONGRESS WILL NOT PAY HEED TO THE D.M.K AND TRNAMOOL CONGRESS AND THEY OUT OF COMPULSION TO REMAIN IN THE GOVERNMENT AND MINISTRY TO MAKE MONEY WILL KEEP QUIET.ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE FOOLING THE PUBLIC.THAT IS THE END RESULT>>>>>
The government of India increased the price for Petrol and diesel.In this they are informing that these are due to international price rise. In this I request the concerned authorities not to spend money for T V and newspaper advertisements. Don't sponser any play. Pass these benifits to the consumers.