Petrol price hike: No tiff between Congress, TMC, says Singhvi

Mumbai, Nov 9 (ANI): Reacting to reports of a tiff having taking place between the UPA Government and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi described it as nothing more than wishful thinking by the Bharatiya Janata (BJP) party.

Singhvi mocked the BJP by saying that these 'certain tiff reports could be an outpouring of a fertile imagination of the BJP'.

He also said that while the Congress Party shared the TMC's concern over the fuel price hike, it didn't appreciate the method adopted by the latter to communicate that concern.

"This could be the outpouring of a fertile imagination as far as the opposition is concerned, which are deliberately trying to spread such stories. As I said, yes, there is a concern, I don't necessarily support the manner, the words, the method of expressing their concern, but certainly I can understand the sentiment behind that concern," he said.

"And, I can only tell you, that there is nothing which an intense exchange of views will not solve. I repeat all wishful thinking by the BJP and all doomsday scenarios based on rumors are nothing but the outcome of a febrile and fertile imagination," he added.

Singh also rubbished reports about the UPA Government granting a rupees 190 billion package to West Bengal to pacify Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Singhvi said this package for West Bengal had been in the pipeline for years and after getting clearance from the country's planning commission, it was now in the process of being granted.

"As you may know, the package assigned for West Bengal has been in proposal for many years. It takes a certain process, a process assigned by the Constitution and there cannot be a short circuit in that process. The process also includes the planning commission and the federal government will come after that and whatever is the result of that process, it will be visible to all. But to relate the two issues, this news from yesterday or day before and this process of many years, would be unjustified," Singhvi said.

Some members of the TMC has earlier threatened to quit the ruling coalition unless the fuel prices hike was reversed with the intention of testing the government's commitment to a move sorely needed to cut the fiscal deficit.

State-owned oil companies had on Friday increased the price of petrol by Rs. 1.80 per litre, the second raise in less than two months. (ANI)