CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on February 18THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly denounces yet another hike in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. These hikes in excise duties come at a time when international oil prices have fallen with the base price for petrol being Rs 47.12 in 2014 to Rs 29.34 in 2021, i.e., nearly 50 per cent. The main reason for these escalating prices is the unbridled hike in the excise duties by the central government, which today is 38 per cent of the cost of petrol. The tax levied by the centre incr