Rising Oil Prices

Government of India in order to bring local oil prices in an accord with the international market increased the diesel prices last week after a long hiatus. Last time the petrol prices were raised just after the commencement of voting in five states, raising many eyebrows and doubting government intentions. The government cannot solely be blamed for the opportunistic behaviour, as every ruling party in the country has followed the same way of thinking. 

"When it comes to political opposition, the ideology matters less."

Never missing the chance to bully the government, the opposition parties throughout the county used the stand of the government to cry out loud against the union wrong economic policies and took out protest movements to show the unrest in the minds of people. Majority of the protest sites were in the states ruled by the opposition parties and in other places they disobeyed the local administration orders thus overall disrupting the normal life of people. 

Do such protests yield any result?

Should government roll back the oil price hike?

As already stated, such protests are politically motivated and have no or little public support. Such protests are not more than the demonstration of power by the opposition. And in the recent case it looks like the power of opposition has slipped only to the states being ruled by them. A call for the full day closure of the country hurts the country economic stature badly which subsequently adds to the inflation and burdens the tax-payer. So in no way whatsoever protests like the last week yield desired results. 

Government of India by increasing the oil prices at this crucial juncture added nails to its coffin. Yet, it seems to be a much thought of process. Economically it’s a move to provide some air of relief to the debt ridden oil companies. Politically government knows that none of the opposition party including the NDA is in a better situation to demand for early parliamentary elections which are scheduled for 2014. And the government cleverly knows the fact that the Indian voter if once bombarded with lavish pre-election promises forgives the past mistakes. If the government rolls back the price hike then it will again become a laughing stock before the opposition.

So what’s the solution?

Amazingly, the production of oil from the Middle East over the years has increased still the supply lacks far behind the demand. In my earlier post on the petrol price hike I wrote on how to limit your transportation cost and switching to eco-friendly ways while travelling. Use of public transports must be encouraged and private vehicles must only be used at when utmost desired. Bicycles prove to be the cheapest and eco-friendly mode of transportation for small distances. Use of public transports and bicycles will surely help in reducing the burden on the refineries and will somehow assist in saving the ailing environment.

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Cabinet Reshuffle: UPA 2

What if BCCI replaces Sachin with Joginder Sharma? Yeah, you read it right, and please don’t give me that bizarre look, I know I may sound stupid but, when Cabinet posts are given to people with least expertise than why not the same model be followed elsewhere. 

I know, like always I’m late again and this time I’m late by a month.  Last month, UPA government reshuffled the Cabinet group of ministers. The reason they gave defied logic; they said Cabinet reshuffle aims in bringing new zeal and fresh blood yet most of the departments had the same old guards. Everyone knows the reason behind cabinet reshuffle.

It was done more to hide recent incompetency of the government than to infuse more of youth participation. Last year would have been very tough for UPA 2. The involvement of top notch ministers in corruption charges and scams and Prime Minister resistant attitude ridiculed the government. It gave the opposition a chance to intensify their demand of forming a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the wrongs in 2G spectrum. The government at times looked so keen to protect its ministers accountable for the mayhem that they even sacrificed the whole winter session of the Parliament, wasting enormous public money. 

Adding to the UPA 2 disaster lists was the sharp hike in prices of Petrol and Onion. Public sentiments were going against the government and something major was needed to be done on the part of Prime Minister. The only possible way for an allayment was a reshuffle.

Yet, things went quite contrary to the beliefs. Government would have never anticipated that reshuffling would only help in making UPA 2 look impotent. Entrusting a single Minister with two or more ministries showed the lack of bench strength in UPA 2.  

Reshuffling must have been truly carried out to bring in more of youth participation. Moreover, it looked like transfer of powers within the Cabinet Ministers rather than a complete change of guards. A week ago Honorable Supreme Court ordered the government to let it and the rest of India know the reason behind including former state Chief Minister in the Cabinet who misused his discretionary powers. 

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Image : Google Image

P2H

Don’t worry it’s not an engineering relation or any other mathematical formula; it’s just Petrol Price Hike.  

Few confessions before moving ahead, firstly I don’t own any vehicle run through petrol. And secondly, I’m yet to explore the joy of riding a bike. So, you might be thinking why I’m bothering much about the P2H. Again a twofold reply, firstly people who own vehicle aren’t the only people affected by frequent P2H. And secondly, I’m bit insane.

Coming back to the topic, the P2H. Petrol price hike causes a direct increase in the already high inflation rate, I read it somewhere. But, isn’t it interesting when a vegetable vendor complains about the P2H for causing the increase in the prices of vegetables? I guess, diesel was meant as a fuel for the trucks caring vegetables instead the petrol. He felt flabbergast after listening to my set of truck theory. 

Also, have you ever thought why only the P2H? What stops the government in not doing the same with its cousin brother, the diesel? What, you never thought on that? Or, maybe you never had the time for that? I was bit free during the PLC lecture and gave it a thought. So, here what my musing replied. Politicians, Bureaucrats, Big businessmen, and others who happen to make or influence law travel through their ultra rich and big SUV’s. They don’t bother about petrol, its diesel which matters them the most. Petrol, like onion, is a common men commodity.  And, like onion, it’s getting far away from them.

Another thought to it, abandon your personal vehicle, put its cover on and smash it in the garage for some time. Use public transportation in day today life. Broadly speaking, it will serve three purposes; firstly it will reduce the congestion from the Indian roads. Secondly, it will help in reduction of air pollution. And thirdly (most important), it will help in generating revenues which can help in stabilizing the petrol price for some time in future. 

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Special thanks: PLC Lecture & Indian Government

Image Source: Google