Ram Naik, former Union petroleum minister, has flayed the United Progressive Alliance government for lowering the prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), saying India is the only country where ATF is cheaper than petrol.
"This is the eighth wonder of the world. In no other country will you find that ATF is cheaper than petrol," Naik said in Mumbai on Friday.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader has put up hoardings decrying the government over the move in the North Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency where he lost to Bollywood actor Govinda in the 2004 elections.
"ATF is sold at Rs 40 per litre to the airlines, whereas petrol which is consumed by the common man, costs Rs 57 per litre," he said.
"The government is leaning towards the affluent and rich people, that is why it reduced ATF prices but did not reduce price of diesel and petrol despite substantial fall in their international prices," Naik said.
