FM wants to do away with oil bonds

Two wrongs do not make a right. From the Oil Ministry's point of view, price controls on petroleum products is wrong. After all, the finances of state owned oil marketing companies are completely messed up because of the subsidized prices. These companies receive oil bonds from the Finance Ministry. From the Finance Ministry's point of view, oil bonds are wrong. They worsen the fiscal deficit situation. In fact, the Finance Ministry has not given any oil bonds to the Oil Ministry so far for the current fiscal. It might wait up to the next budget. The problem is how does a government increase prices of petroleum products without affecting the economy and its popularity? Especially, if it gets elected on the aam admi plank. In our view, no amount of accounting and procedural jugglery can solve the fundamental problem.