Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: On the eve of the second and final phase of polling in the Gujarat state Assembly elections, the Congress on Wednesday targeted the Narendra Modi government for “fuel loot” by not passing on to the consumers the advantage of declining prices of international crude.
In keeping with the party’s one of the major election issue highlighting high fuel prices, including of cooking gas, and price rises, the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the BJP government at the centre of continuing with its “fuel loot” despite international crude prices hitting a 10-month low. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi too targeted the Prime Minister over high prices of petrol and diesel which in turn push up the prices of all other commodities due to the hike in the transportation cost.
Giving statistics, Kharge pointed out: “On May 16, 2014 (Delhi) – Crude per barrel was USD 107.09. Petrol – ₹71.51 and Diesel – ₹57.28 per litre. On December 1, 2022 – Crude per barrel is USD 87.55 but Petrol – ₹96.72. Diesel – ₹89.62. Crude is [at] 10-month low, But BJP’s loot remains high!” Mr. Kharge tweeted with a graphic that read: “Stop Fuel Loot”.
Mr. Gandhi said while global crude oil rates have come down by as much as 25% in the last six months, the government has not reduced a single rupee in petrol and diesel prices in the country. “In the last 6 months, crude oil has become cheaper by more than 25%. Petrol and diesel prices in the country can be reduced by more than ₹10, but the government has not reduced even one rupee. The people of India are suffering from inflation. The Prime Minister is engrossed in recovery,” Mr. Gandhi said in a Hindi tweet.