New Delhi: After the prices of petrol and diesel got hiked for the 10th consecutive day, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take back the decision which is an "additional burden" on the people during Coronavirus crisis.
"India has faced unprecedented public health, economic and social challenges during the ongoing battle against COVID-19. I am deeply distressed that in this exceedingly difficult times, since the beginning of March, the Government has taken wholly insensitive decision to increase petrol and diesel prices on no less than 10 separate occasions," Sonia Gandhi stated in her letter.
The price of petrol was increased by 47 paise a litre, on Monday, while that of diesel by 57 paise a litre, for tenth day in a row even as the crude oil rates have coke down to multi-years low.
Congress President alleged that the Government is seeking to "earn" an additional revenue of nearly Rs 2,60,000 crores by these "ill-advised" hikes in excuse duty on petrol and diesel.
While concerning over the matter, she mentioned that due to economic impact of COVID-19, millions have deprived of jobs and livelihoods as the virus has devastated business and rapidly eroding the income of middle class.
Read more:Petrol, diesel prices rise above Rs 5/litre; ATF price hiked by 16.3%
She asserted, "As it is, people across the board are facing unimaginable hardships, what to say of widespread fear and insecurity. The price increases are saddling our people with an additional burden of this enormous magnitude that is neither justified nor appropriate. It is the duty and responsibility of the government to alleviate suffering, not put the people to still greater hardship."
Gandhi also noted that despite a historically low oil prices in the last six years, the Government's revenues have been "massively enriched" by cumulative increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel. "This translates into 258 percent increase in excise on petrol and 820 percent hike in excise duty on diesel yielding in these 6 years a staggering Rs 18,000 crores from excise collection on petrol and diesel alone. If ever there was a time to deploy these resources in the service of the people, it is now," she suggested.
Congress President urged PM Modi to roll back these increase in petrol and diesel prices, while passing on the benefit of low oil prices directly to the citizens of this country. "If you wish for them to be 'self-reliant' then do not place financial fetters on their ability to move forward," she said. Gandhi also reminded PM Modi regarding Congress' appeal to use government's resources to put money directly into the hands of people who need it in this time of severe hardship.
