By IANS,
Kolkata: The ruling Communist government affiliate Centre of Indian Trade Unions’ (CITU) 24-hour public transport strike in West Bengal Saturday drew a scathing response from the opposition parties who termed it a “political stunt”.
“This transport strike is nothing more than a political stunt. If they are so concerned about the common people then why are they not asking the state government to slash taxes on oil prices imposed by the state government?” asked Pradip Bhattacharjee, working president of the state Congress.
The Trinamool Congress major opposition party in West Bengal and an important ally of the congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the centre, said the strike was a desperate attempt of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to “come out of political demoralisation”.
“This transport strike is nothing more than an attempt to come out of political demoralisation. This strike has only added to the woes of common man,” said Subrata Mukherjee, a leader of the Trinamool Congress.
The Indian government Friday freed petrol from administrative control and hiked the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas in a major policy reform that will help improve its fiscal position and release funds for other programmes.
Prices of diesel have gone up by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder. Petrol will now be costlier by Rs.3.5 per litre.