New Delhi: Left parties today called a nationwide agitation against the hike in petrol and diesel prices and said their suggestions to cut excise and customs duties to minimise burden on the people had been "completely ignored" by the government.

"Our party has decided to launch a country wide agitation against the increase in petrol and diesel prices jointly with all Left and secular forces," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said addressing a rally organised to mark the conclusion of the CPI-M state conference in Kottayam. Karat's party colleague Sitaram Yechury told reporters in Delhi that "we are utterly disappointed by the decision".

The sentiment was echoed by the leaders of CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc who said their suggestions have not been considered by the government. "The CPI is completely opposed to the decision which will have a cascading effect on the already overburdened common man who has been hit badly by high prices of all essential items," party's National Secretary D Raja said.

Left parties suggestions not to burden the people by reducing taxes and duties to meet the hike in global prices was "completely ignored", he said, adding CPI has asked all its units across the country to plan agitations against the government move. Criticising the increase, RSP leader Abani Roy said the government "which has come to power with the slogan of aam aadmi has completely ignored the people."

Forward Bloc leader G Devarajan said the government should immediately set up a Price Stabilisation Fund to control the increase in prices of petro products.

No roll back of fuel price hike: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ruled out a roll back of the fuel price hike announced on Thursday, saying this would have a disastrous impact on the economy.

"The increase is marginal. We have a situation where the world prices are rising," the Prime Minister told reporters on the sideline of a book release at his 7 Race Course Road official residence here on Thursday evening. "If we continue subsiding (the oil companies against rising crude prices) the fiscal system would collapse", he maintained.

The Indian cabinet, at a meeting on Thursday presided over by the Prime Minister, gave its approval to a hike of Rs.2 (5 cents) a litre on gasoline and Rs.1 a litre on diesel to ease the fiscal burden on oil firms, even as the Left parties called for nationwide protests against the move. Asked about US ambassador David Mulford's comments on the civilian nuclear deal, Manmohan said: "I do not want to comment."

Pressing for conclusion of the agreement during the Bush administration, Mulford had, in a TV interview last week, suggested that it was almost "now or never" for India to get it through as non-proliferation groups may force additional conditionalities in it. Asked how long controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen would be continue to stay in India, Manmohan Singh said, "Whenever we take any decision, you will come to know first."

Muslim fundamental groups have been demanding that her visa be cancelled due to her allegedly derogatory writings on Islam.

Source : IANS