Fuel price hike irrational, says Swami Agnivesh

Social activist Swami Agnivesh today described the hike in diesel, kerosene and LPG prices as "irrational" and said "corruption", which is mother of inflation, fuelled the cost.

He also accused the Centre of levying high excise duty of 50% on petroleum products and asked the government to roll back the prices by reducing the duty.

"Fight against corruption will continue and the movement would be totally non-political and non-violent and the civil society leaders would not be cowed down by the mean tactics of the government," he said told reporters here.

On the land provided by the Himachal Pradesh government to Patanjali Yogpeeth of Ramdev and his other "commercial activities," Agnivesh said the enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department was making enquiries and he had no knowledge about this.

He also sought enactment of a law, making it mandatory for all political parties and politicians to make their assets public. He also demanded audit of political parties by the CAG.

On differences between the government and the civil society members on Lokpal Bill, Agnivesh said the drafting committee of the government had only Congress ministers in it and claimed UPA allies were not taken into confidence.

Political parties like CPM and CPI were in favour of bringing the Prime Minister in the purview of Lokpal, he said.

He hoped parties like BJP, AIADMK, Trinmool Congress and TDP would be taken into confidence by the civil society team to seek their support for the bill.