In six months, the central government has spent Rs. 2.31 lakh crore

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

Rising petrol and diesel prices in the country during the Corona period are adding to the hardships of the people and there is no indication that these price hikes will stop at present. On Saturday, the price of petrol in the country went up by 3 paise and diesel by 3 paise to a new high. As a result, petrol prices in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Nagaland have also gone up by Rs. 100 has been exceeded. Along with this, petrol in 18 states of the country while diesel in three states cost Rs. The level of 100 has been exceeded. Criticizing the Center on the issue of fuel price hike, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary said that the Center had hiked petrol and diesel prices three times this year to Rs. 2.31 lakh crore.

In Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, Kanker, Jashpur and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh and Kohima in Nagaland, petrol prices rose by Rs. The level of 100 has been exceeded. Along with these three states, petrol in 14 states in the country costs Rs. Over 100, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Ladakh, Sikkim and Puducherry. Besides, diesel in Rajasthan, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh is also priced at Rs. 100 has been exceeded.

In Delhi, petrol price has gone up by Rs. 100.71 and diesel Rs. 3.2. Taxes account for 5 per cent of the retail price of petrol in Delhi, with the Center levying an excise duty of Rs. 2.50 and Rs. 4.50 is collected by the state government in the form of VAT. Similarly, diesel also costs Rs. 21.20 excise and Rs. 12.50 is levied in the form of VAT. In Ahmedabad, petrol price has been increased by 3 paise to Rs. 4.5 and diesel by 3 paise to Rs. 3.2.

In Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Indore, petrol is priced at Rs. 110 per liter while the price of diesel has gone up to Rs. 3 has been born. However, in some other districts of the state, petrol costs Rs. 110 and diesel Rs. "We have crossed 100," said Ajay Singh, president of the Petrol Pump Dealers Association. After a 15-day hiatus in five state elections, including West Bengal, petrol prices have gone up three times and diesel three times since May 4. During this time, petrol cost Rs. 10.31 and diesel Rs. 8.15 has become expensive. Union Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, when questioned in this regard, declined to comment.

On the other hand, on the issue of petrol-diesel price hike, Congress leader and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary lashed out at the Center, saying that since January 1, petrol and diesel prices have been increased three times and Rs. 2.31 crore.