PANJIM: People were in for a third rude shock on Friday, when prices of diesel and petrol were hiked by oil PSUs for the third time in four days. The 80 paise hike raised the price of petrol to Rs 98.47 and the price of diesel to Rs 89.67.
The continuous price hike comes days after the declaration of election results in five states, including Goa. Prices of fuel had been frozen for about four-and-a-half months prior to the elections. The total price rise on fuel during the last four days now stands at Rs 2.40 paise per litre.
The price of petrol was Rs 96.37 on March 21, which rose to Rs 96.87 the next day and then to Rs 97.67 on March 23, after a continuous price hike over four days. The price of diesel was Rs 87.48 on March 21, which climbed to Rs 88.07 on March 22 and to Rs 88.87 on March 23, causing frustration among the people.
In addition to the inflation and high prices of commodities, the hike in fuel prices will trigger another round of rise in prices of essential commodities.
A motorcycle rider in Panjim told Herald TV, that the poor will be badly hit with this hike and to buy milk or fish they will have to go walking. He said the government should reduce the price of petrol. “I earn Rs 800 per day, I have to fill Rs 200 worth fuel daily to travel to Divar. I am badly hit by this fuel hike, like others,” he said.
“With this fuel hike we do not know what to do. We are still to see the ‘acche din’. Where are they? We haven’t seen ‘acche din’,” another scooterist told Herald TV. “Only God knows when ‘acche din’ will come,” he added.
Hitting out at the government, trade unionist Raju Mangeshkar said, “They lowered the price of fuel by Rs 6 to 7 prior to elections in five States. Now, just after the swearing in ceremonies in some States they have hiked the price of fuel thrice in four days. People are getting hit so badly.”
Recalling the days when Atal Behari Vajpayee drove to Parliament in a bullock card, Mangueshkar said now people will have to go walking. “What is happening is bad. When the price of diesel goes up, there is a cascading effect on prices of other commodities. The cost of transportation go up, with that the prices of food grains and essential commodities go up, putting a heavy burden on the common man,” Mangeshkar said.
He added, “There is even a misinformation campaign by linking it to the Russia-Ukraine war. These are gimmicks, they have no connection to the war whatsoever. This is to throw dust into the eyes of the people. People should condemn this outright.” Mangeshkar is also Secretary, Communist Party of India.
