Without doubt, the increase in the prices of petro goods would hurt the family budgets of most middle and lower middle class families. But there was no way the Government could have absorbed the increased costs of the imported crude oil without playing havoc with the national economy. Which, mind you, would have certainly hurt the people at large in a far more insidious manner than the modest petro hike would now pinch those who actually use these products. The point is that the Government cannot subsidise the use of petro products beyond a reasonable limit. It is to be noted that even after the recent hike, there continues to be a good element of subsidy on all petro products, especially the LPG and kerosene.
Governance entails tough and often unpopular decisions.
The Mamata Banerjee brand of politics does not countenance anything beyond cheap gimmicks and low theatricals. Banerjee has neither the wherew the intricacies of good governance. Cheap charades, ostensibly in the name of the people, alone seem to dictate her actions. Her impulsive behaviour is beginning to be counter-productive. Admittedly, Banerjee was on the lookout for an excuse to quit the Vajpayee Ministry in order to be able to devote herself fully to the strengthening of her organisational setup ahead of next year's battle of the hustings in West Bengal.