Bengaluru: The rise in petrol and diesel prices has been relentless and the prices hit a record high on Wednesday. But what has made people angry is the decision of oil marketing companies to keep the prices on hold for 19 days till the Karnataka elections were over and then increase them suddenly.
"One should remember that the UPA government was criticised for a spike in fuel prices. The NDA government at the Centre should subsidise fuel prices and reduce the burden on the common man. Was there no hike in fuel price internationally during the Karnataka elections," asked Mr Adwait, a sales executive, sarcastically.
Petrol price in the city has touched Rs 77.85 per litre, while diesel has climbed to Rs 69.29. Petrol price has increased by 31 paise since Monday and diesel by Rs 2.39 since last month.
People Deccan Chronicle spoke to expressed fears that the fuel price hike would have a cascading effect on the prices of essential commodities and transport. With the prices going up, the BMTC is thinking of increasing the ticket fares. A BMTC officer said, "We are not allowed to revise the fares since the new government is yet to be sworn in. But it is certainly on the cards."
Mr Ujjwal, a lecturer with a private college who was filling fuel at a petrol bunk, told Deccan Chronicle, "The public transport in the city is in a pathetic shape. If public transport facilities were better, we could have switched to it."
A vegetable vendor in Koramangala, Shiv Prasada, said, "Vegetable prices are sure to go up, since it involves transportation. We have no option, but to increase the prices. The government should take recourse to subsidies, otherwise people will suffer. Consumers get angry with us because of the high prices, but we have no choice."
