Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Navjyot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said the income earned from auction of 3G spectrum should be utilised to control the rising petroleum product prices.
Addressing a press conference at the party office here, Sidhu said the party has organised a Bharat Bandh on July five as part of its anti-inflation protest.
He said the government has earned Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 1,000 billion) in the 3G spectrum auction. "It is a windfall for the government and this should be used to control the rising petroleum product prices," he said.
Sidhu said income from spectrum allocation was not taken into account in the budget and demanded it should be used for the common man to bring down the prices.
"80 per cent of the budget was spent on corporate sector by giving a concession of Rs 520,000 crore (Rs 5,200 billion) to the 1 per cent rich corporates while social schemes were given only Rs 170,000 crore (Rs 1,700 billion).
"I am not against rich people there has to be a balance maintained in the budget," he said.
Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who was also present at the press conference, said food inflation never crossed 4 to 5 per cent and inflation was 2 per cent during the NDA regime. "Today inflation is 11 per cent and food inflation 20 per cent," he added.
Sidhu said petrol prices have gone up by 26 per cent in one year while diesel prices increased by 30 per cent. "Such things happen only in war situation. But even in 1963 and 1971, the inflation was less than 7 per cent," he claimed.
Sidhu charged that the price hike is manipulated and essential commodities throughout the world are half of that in India.
When asked who is to blame for it, Sidhu said it was the collective responsibility of the government. "You cannot blame a single person. Since prime minister is the head of the government, he is accountable," he added.
