In line with the concerns raised by people at large over recent spurt in the prices of petrol, Congress on Monday said, since two hikes amounting to `5 in one month seem “tad unfair”, Oil-Marketing Companies (OMCs) should explain the reasons for the recent increase in public domain.
Despite hinting that the party is disapproved of the frequency and the quantum of increase in the prices of petrol by OMCs, the Congress chose to remain non-committal on the issue of whether government should take a re-look at its policy of dismantling Administrative Prices Mechanism (APM) for petrol.
However, many party leaders on the condition of anonymity said that hike in petrol prices is bound to happen corresponding to hike in crude prices in the international market, as 80 per cent of India’s petroleum needs are met by imports. But AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “A `5 hike in one month does seem a tad unfair. It is incumbent upon companies to put the justification in public space. What is the rationale of that increase must be told to the public... It does rightly so agitate the mind.”
He, however, refused to give direct answers to questions on whether the party now viewed that the issue of decontrol of petrol of prices need to be revisited.