BJP will move cut motion on fuel prices

The BJP will move a cut motion on the restoration of petrol and diesel duties when tax proposals in the Union budget are debated in the second half of the parliament session in May.

Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said the government’s stand that there would be no rollback of duties on fuel smacked of “arrogance of power”.

“Since nearly 300 MPs spontaneously walked out during the budget speech on a single issue, the government should give the matter enough consideration. Not just the opposition, but government allies Mamata Banerjee and the DMK have also opposed the move, there should be a rollback.

“The BJP will bring a cut motion when the budget is debated as a legitimate, constitutional recourse, apart from organising protests on the streets,” he said.

While the BJP has formally denied that it would talk to the Samajwadi Party or the Rashtriya Janata Dal, there is an attempt to synergise an opposition campaign on price rise. “There was a spontaneous protest in parliament, which is likely to continue,” Javadekar said.

The BJP has also decided to run a signature campaign.