Gulf War no blip. It’s time to take some hard decisions on fertiliser ‘revdis’

In the name of patriotism, the Prime Minister has called on citizens to curb consumption of imported goods and foreign travel. But at the same time, by refusing to allow prices to rise in line with international rates, the govt is providing massive implicit and explicit subsidies that encourage the consumption of those very imported goods — crude oil and petroleum products, cooking gas, natural gas, fertilisers, and allied items.

The time for painful decisions has arrived. Prices should be raised to international rates. We must also seize this opportunity to reform the ridiculous fertiliser subsidy.