“The Modi government has increased excise duty on diesel by 8 times and 2.5 times on petrol in its tenure so far.”
NEW DELHI — After calling the rising fuel prices as “Modi tax”, the Congress on Wednesday again attacked the Centre, terming it as ‘fuel loot’.
Congress Chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “BJP should stop the fuel loot.”
He said in a tweet: “Petrol-Diesel rise for the 9th consecutive day. Modi Govt seeks to recover Rs 2,00,000 CRORE in FY 21 alone.
“Daily increase is happening owing to ‘Modi Tax’ of Rs 23.78/litre (Petrol) & Rs 28.37/litre (Diesel) hike in last 6 years.”
The Congress has been demanding the withdrawal of taxes on petrol and diesel that the Centre has imposed over the last 6.8 years. “This in itself will reduce petrol price to Rs 61.92 per litre and diesel price to Rs 47.51 per litre. Every common Indian deserves this relief immediately,” the party said earlier.
“In the last 6.8 years, the government has earned over Rs 20 lakh crore by imposing additional excise duty on petrol and diesel. In May 2014, the international crude oil price was $108 per barrel and petrol was selling at Rs 71.51 per litre in Delhi, while diesel was selling at Rs 57.28 per litre in Delhi.
“The international crude oil price as on February 1 was $54.41 per barrel and yet as of today, the price of petrol is Rs 89.29 per litre in Delhi whereas diesel is selling at Rs 79.70 per litre. Over the last six years, the additional excise burden — Modi Tax — on the common consumer has been increased by Rs 23.78 per litre on petrol and by Rs 28.37 per litre on diesel — 820 per cent on diesel and 258 per cent on petrol,” said the Congress statement on Tuesday.
Youth Congress stage protests
Meanwhile on Wednesday, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a protest against rising prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders at the Connaught Place in New Delhi.
As a mark of protest, IYC activists rode bicycles wearing cricket gear, symbolically referring to petrol prices reaching the century-mark.
IYC national president Srinivas B.V. said, “By robbing the people, the Modi government is focusing only on the development of the capitalists. By increasing the prices of petrol, diesel and gas cylinders again, the Modi government has made it clear that it has nothing to do with the problems of the common people.”
Srinivas further said that the common people have been badly hit by inflation, while petrol and diesel prices are increasing continuously despite the low prices of crude oil in the international market.
The IYC leader alleged that the Centre is punishing the people, who have already been hit badly by inflation, by continuously increasing the prices of petrol, diesel and gas cylinders. Cylinder prices have gone up by Rs 75 in the last 14 days, and it is a pity for the Modi government that a new record is being set in the prices of petrol and diesel, he alleged.
He further said that the Modi government has increased excise duty on diesel by 8 times and 2.5 times on petrol in its tenure so far. — IANS
