SHILLONG, MAY 15: Linking domestic fuel prices to global instability, BJP chief spokesperson M Kharkrang on Friday said the Centre was trying to prevent hikes despite oil companies “incurring losses worth thousands of crores every day” and urged citizens to heed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity.
“We are dealing with geopolitical situation right here and the government has been trying to prevent any hike in the petrol prices to the extent that oil company are incurring losses worth thousands of crores every day and there will come a time that they will not be able to sustain themselves anymore,” Kharkrang told reporters.
He said the crisis was not unique to India.
“So, this is a worldwide phenomenon and because of the prices in the middle east, I think it is not isolated to India alone so it is a worldwide phenomenon and i think we have to accept that.” “What is happening in the middle east is beyond the control of the country and the central government. These things do effect. We have to bear with it,” he said.
Backing the Prime Minister’s appeal, Kharkrang added, “I hope so the people also they heed to the austerity measures that the prime minister had requested all citizens of the country so that we prevent foreign exchange from leaving the country and to whatever foreign exchange that we have it stays within the country.” He stressed collective responsibility.
“I hope the people and citizens of India heed to what the prime minister had requested so that ultimately, we all have to fight this together. It is not about the central government or BJP government or any government. As a country, we have to bear this and we have to fight together.”
Asked about possible solutions, Kharkrang said, “That is what I am saying, that it is beyond the control of Delhi. Everybody wants the war to end. All peace-loving country would want this war to end as it is affecting the trade, the economy of almost all economies of the countries of the world. Central government must be taking a lot of measures. The only solution i can see is that the war in the middle east comes to a stop. That is the only solution I can see.”
On work-from-home as an austerity measure, he clarified, “Wherever possible, it is not that we are saying work from home but wherever possible, we have done it during the Covid times and he (PM) did not stress on the particular kind of labour force or the work force, he said wherever possible. Of course, labourers cannot work from home but there are so many other works that can be done from home.”
