It is often said that everything has a ‘positive’ aspect, however deep the negativities might be. Going by this saying then, it can argued that at least for the time being, all thoughts on Covid 2.0, vaccination or for that matter the prospect of a 3^rd wave have been sidelined, only to be replaced by musings over one particular matter- when will the marathon run that has resulted in petrol crossing the Rs 100 per litre mark and diesel also chasing closely, will end. It’s not just high, but an all-time high and how deep the effect has been can be realized through a 10-minute visit to the nearest vegetable/commodity market. Since no steps have been taken so far by the Centre and the states, the misery, seemingly has no end.

The ‘marathon’ actually started from the first month of the year and from May after the election results were declared, the momentum has been unparalleled. With around 35 successive hikes since the end of the democratic festival in 5 states/UTs, price of per litre petrol in at least 14 states and UTs and 2 dozen metros has already crossed Rs 100 and in financial capital Mumbai it’s over Rs 105. Putting up a neck and neck fight with petrol, after a 34-time increase during the last 2 months, diesel is now selling at Rs 90-96 per litre. Like in all earlier occasions, the global price situation is now being widely ‘promoted’ as the villain. The narrative, however, will not find a large number takers, since, compelled by the  successive ‘bombardments’, living in the current age of information, the common people, after getting 'studious', know very well the true reasons. Even if it’s now a big bore to recall the data pertaining to the pre-2014 years, it’s still necessary to have an idea of the difference between the nature of oil-pricing policies of the UPA and NDA regimes. In June 2013, when per barrel price of crude oil was $ 101, petrol in India was retailing at around Rs 64-77 per litre. On July 5, 2021, when per barrel international price was $ 75.77(Brent) and $ 74.86 (U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures), Rs 100 per litre seems to be the new normal price of petrol. The Centre must feel how difficult the days are getting for the common people and should remember that around 23 cr of the population have already been pushed below the poverty line due to the pandemic.

Whatever the solutions are – tax cut, GST coverage of petrol/diesel or anything else, it’s necessary to roll them out at once.