BHUBANESWAR: Amid the soaring prices of petrol and diesel, blame game between the ruling BJD and BJP continued on Sunday. The BJD came down heavily on the BJP-led Government at the Centre for the unprecedented hike in diesel price which has surpassed that of petrol for the first time in Odisha.
Alleging that the unprecedented fuel price hike was due to wrong policy of the Centre, Finance Minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said either the oil companies were not regulated or the Central Government had a tacit understanding with them. “With the record hike in diesel price, essential commodities will become dearer,” he said.
On the other hand, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said Behera only speaks as per the direction of the third floor (Chief Minister’s office in the Secretariat). “Fuel prices have come down substantially in the last three days but people in Odisha are suffering as the State Government has not cut tax on fuel,” he said.
General secretary of the State BJP Prithviraj Harichandan said the Finance Minister should consider all factors while making a statement on an important issue.“People of Odisha know the reason why there has been a constant rise in fuel prices. While 13 States have reduced value-added tax (VAT) on fuel, Odisha Government is yet take a decision in this regard,” he added.