The anti-national Opposition

It is sad that the opposition parties don't support the government in positive measures which are not populist. I'm referring to the deregulation of petrol prices. I'm no expert in economics, but the measure seems pretty sensible to me. Like each household, government also has to manage its finances, and going high on deficits is perhaps not in national interest. (Recent happenings in Europe come to my mind.)
Subsidy should be targeted at the needy, and should not be universal. And in any case, subsidizing a precious natural resource that is running out doesn't seem to be a good idea - it's like subsidizing a bad addiction! The money saved by this can be spent on targeted but very ambitious welfare schemes like NREGA, Right to Education, upcoming Food Security Bill..

Last month I was in Korea and I asked a friend whether government subsidizes petrol there, and he looked at me curiously and said "Why should the government subsidize?". He also told me that there is a "pollution tax" that owners of diesel-operated vehicles have to pay.

Lastly, going by Vajpayee government's ways, BJP itself was likely to take this step. And now they have shut down Bharat in protest. Opportunistic.

Debt crisis pushes Europe toward economic reforms
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_Sweden_an_Oil-Free_Society
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil