18 lakh crore extorted from people by raising oil prices: Sonia Gandhi targets Modi government

New delhi date. Monday 29 June 2020

Today, the Congress is protesting across the country over petrol and diesel prices. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has hit out at the Modi government over rising petrol and diesel prices, saying the government has raised Rs 18 lakh crore by increasing excise duty on petrol and diesel 12 times.

Sonia Gandhi said that on the one hand the scourge of Corona epidemic and on the other hand the impact of expensive petrol-diesel has made life difficult for the countrymen. Today, petrol and diesel prices have crossed Rs 80 per liter in the national capital Delhi and other major cities. After the lockdown, the Modi government has increased petrol and diesel prices 22 times.

Sonia Gandhi said petrol-diesel prices were being hiked at a time when crude oil prices were falling in the international market. After 2014, instead of giving the public the benefit of falling crude oil prices, the Modi government has raised excise duty on petrol and diesel 12 times, raising an additional Rs 18 lakh crore.

Sonia Gandhi said that the responsibility of the government is to support the countrymen in difficult times. Don't take advantage of their troubles to make a profit. Has introduced a new example of coercion with the countrymen through the unjust increase in the price of petrol-diesel. This is not only unjust but also insensitive.

Sonia Gandhi said rising prices were having a direct impact on the agrarian-poor-employed business middle class and small businesses. I urge the Modi government to immediately reverse the rising prices of petrol and diesel in the wake of the Koro epidemic. Excise duty should also be withdrawn.

Today, the Congress party is staging a series of protests against rising petrol and diesel prices amid the Corona crisis.