NEW DELHI, June 10: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday hinted at the possibility of a reduction in the petrol and diesel prices if international crude cost remained stable for some more time.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters to mark the Modi government’s nine years in power, Puri said oil companies would be in a position to look at the issue of reducing petrol and diesel prices if the international crude cost remains stable and these firms have a good next quarter.
The Narendra Modi-led government has ensured that there was no rise in oil prices since April 2022, the BJP leader said and noted that the government would make certain that consumers suffer no hardship.
To questions on whether a reduction in oil prices was under consideration, he said he was not in a position to make an announcement on the issue. “As we go along we will see what can be done,” the minister said.
He said state-run oil marketing companies did “okay” in the last quarter. “They have recovered some of their losses. They have been very good corporate citizens. As we go along we will see what can be done,” he said.
One may like to give everything for “free” but then they enter the dangerous territory of freebie politics, Puri said, accusing the opposition parties of doing “revdi politics.” The issue of pricing was a dynamic matter, he said, adding that the government has taken several welfare measures in its nine years term to help people.
Mr Puri said the non-BJP state governments are most vocal about petroleum prices even when they sell petrol and diesel at higher prices than BJP governments by not reducing VAT.
In this context, he referred to the situation in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka without naming them and noted the power crisis they have suffered. The western neighbour has to cut down on electricity after evening, the minister said and lauded Modi for pursuing policies that kept availability and affordability under control while also pushing sustainability by promoting green energy.
The government is also working to push the country’s refining capacity to 400-450 million metric tonnes from around 252 MMT now, he said.
Mr Puri cited various data, including those related to the housing and urban development ministry, also under him, to assert that the government’s policies are sound, forward-looking and well-intentioned, and credited PM Modi’s “decisive leadership” for it.
He also attacked Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Rafale and other issues, saying politics was all about credibility, and claimed that the Congress leader’s statements have been proven false in the past.
He “suddenly remembers” the condition of minorities during his visits abroad, Puri said and noted that the 1983 Nellie massacre of Muslims and the 1984 killings of Sikhs occurred during the Congress rule.
The minister cited growth in the infrastructure sector under the Modi government to mock the former Congress president’s jibe at the government that it was always looking into the rear-view mirror to blame others. “His eyesight should be checked. He may be wearing the wrong glasses,” the minister said, noting that the Indian economy has risen to the fifth position globally from tenth under the UPA government and citing other development figures.
(Manas Dasgupta)
