Price hike: Deve Gowda warns PM

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 12. Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal(S) leader, today warned the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, of serious repercussions if the increase in the prices of "essential" petroleum products was not withdrawn.

Addressing party workers before leading a rally against the price increase, he said the agitation was gaining momentum. Protests had been organised in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and at Kochi. He vowed not to rest till the goal of forcing the Government to withdraw the price increase was achieved. "I am a mad man. I do not sleep even for an hour. I run wherever people call me (to take part in agitation)."

"I do pray for Mr. Vajpayee to get well fast. But he should not take decisions that are detrimental to the poor. I don't care even if I am put in jail," he declared.

Stating that the price of kerosene had been increased by 250 per cent in the last one year, he claimed he had defeated the machinations of bureaucrats to raise the prices of petroleum products during his term as Prime Minister. The bureaucrats wanted the price of kerosene hiked by Rs. 5 a litre citing the deficit of Rs. 17,000 crores in the oil pool. "But I refused to sign. I said the proposal would not be cleared while I continued as Prime Minister."

Earlier, in an indirect reference to the former Union Minister and Leader of the Janata Dal(U), Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, Mr. Deve Gowda said: "None of us is a born leader. We have become leaders because of the hard work of party workers".

Stating that ego (of a leader) would not help the poor, he said: "The leaders who are not ready to fight for the poor should be condemned".

Massive rally

Thousands of JD(S) supporters led by Mr. Deve Gowda staged a protest against the Union and State governments for increasing the prices of petroleum products and bus fares.

Holding placards with slogans on the plight of the poor, they took out a procession from the Janata Dal Office to Basaveswara Circle, via Shivananda Circle. A number of women participating in the rally held empty kerosene containers and raised slogans against the governments.

Besides, Mr. Deve Gowda, the former Deputy Chief Minister and President of party's State unit, Mr. Siddaramaiah, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Mr. K.H. Srinivasa, the former Mayor, Mr. J. Huchappa, the former minister, Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, and the former MLC, Mr. A.K. Subbaiah, participated in the procession.

Addressing party supporters, Mr. Deve Gowda said: "It is time for the party to fight (against the Union and State governments), and not clamour for power. "Our fight should go on forever." His party would organise protests every month in one district. He appealed to Mr. Siddaramaiah and the other party leaders to work hard for one year and organise programmes in different parts of the State.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the "unprecedented" increase in the prices of petroleum products, especially kerosene and LPG, had caused hardship to people. He expressed regret that while the prices of essential commodities used by the poor were raised, those used by the rich were spared.

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