New Delhi: After the petrol and diesel prices touched an all-time high in major cities across the country, Congress party, on Thursday, slammed the Union Government, alleging it of decimating common man's budget and "profiteering" from their miseries.
Today, Petrol price was hiked by 21-24 paise per litre and diesel by 26-29 paise across the country, amid firming international oil prices. In Delhi, the petrol prices reached to Rs 84.2, while diesel is at Rs 74.83 a litre. In Mumbai, petrol retailed at Rs 90.83 per litre while diesel at Rs 81.07 per litre.
While speaking over the matter, Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The loot on Petrol and diesel continued unabated by Modi Government. Modi Ji, you have to answer, why are you fleecing 19 lakh crore in the last 6.5 years from the pockets of the common man?"
He further alleged, "Fleece the people, profiteer from their misery and decimate from the budget of the common person have become the new mantra for Modi Government."
Surjewala also mentioned that when the UPA demitted power in May 2014, the crude oil prices were at $110 per barrel, which is today $50.96 per barrel and yet the prices of petrol and diesel are at highest in the last 73 years.
He demanded, "In the last 6.5 years, Modi Ji has increased excise duty on petrol by 258 per cent and on diesel, by 820 per cent. INC demands that the Modi Government immediately rolls back the excise duty and give relief to the common people who are already facing vagaries of information table inflation and also the economic slowdown and recession."
The Congress leader also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not saying anything on the deaths of 60 farmers during their protests at the Delhi borders against the three agriculture laws.
He said, "Why has the prime minister not uttered a single word over the 60 farmers who died at Delhi border. This has never happened in the past 70 years that so many farmers have died and the Prime Minister remained immune to their miseries."
"Farmers are braving coldest weather ever and the Government is sitting in the heated rooms of Delhi Corridors, refusing to listen to their miseries. Why is Prime Minister mum at domestic issues?" Surjewala added.
On the 43rd day of their protest, farmers have taken out a tractor rally today at their protesting sites. Farmers Union had also given a warning to the Government that if their demands will not be met then they will lead a tractor march to enter into the national capital on the occasion of Republic Day.
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