By IANS,
New Delhi : Justifying the fuel price hike, the Congress Wednesday said the party-led government had taken a “considered” decision to avoid pushing the country into an “economic” risk.
“With a heavy heart, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has taken a decision to increase the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari told reporters here.
The government Wednesday announced a hike in the prices of petrol by Rs.5 per litre, diesel by Rs.3 and cooking gas Rs.50 per cylinder.
“There was a choice between endangering the economy of the country and to bite the bullet. The Congress as usual put the national interest first, and decided to bite the bullet,” Tiwari said.
However, he argued that the previous regime of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had increased the prices of petrol 21 times, diesel 17 times and cooking gas three times.
“They did not even spare kerosene whereas the UPA government has not increased the price of kerosene yet.
“In 1998, when the BJP came to power, the international crude oil price was $12.2 per barrel and when they left power it was $34.7. The price touched $133 per barrel as on May 21,” Tiwari pointed out.
“In the complex situation, the government has taken a considered decision. It was a collective decision too,” Tiwari said adding that the allies had been taken into confidence.