Modi Govt Turning Disaster Into Opportunity: Sonia on fuel prices, farmers’ protest

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has accused the Narendra Modi government of indulging in 'profiteering' by increasing excise duty on petroleum products and demanded that the taxes be brought down to the levels that prevailed during UPA rule.

Pointing out that the hike in fuel prices was the highest in the last 73 years, Sonia Gandhi said that instead of passing on benefits of low crude oil prices to consumers, the Modi government is indulging in profiteering.

Sonia Gandhi issued a statement to attack the government. She pointed out that the latest crude oil price was USD 50.96 a barrel, which is Rs 23.43 a litre. Sonia Gandhi said “Yet, diesel is being sold at Rs 74.38 and petrol at Rs 84.20 a litre. This is the highest in the past 73 years. Instead of passing on to consumers the benefits of the low international crude oil price, the government is profiteering on it by imposing higher excise duty. In the past six years alone, this government has collected Rs 19,00,000 crore as excise duty from the people.”

Congress president urged that the government bring down the rates of excise duty on petrol and diesel to that of the UPA era and give relief to the people, Gandhi said, “Due to Covid, the economy is already in a shambles but the Modi government is making the opportunity to put money into the coffers.”

According to media reports, petrol price on January 7 went to an all-time high of Rs 84.20 per litre in the national capital. The price of petrol was hiked by 23 paise per litre and diesel by 26 paise a litre. In Delhi, petrol now costs Rs 84.20 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 74.38.

Besides, she also attacked the government over ongoing farmers’ protest. She said: “For the first time in the history of independent India, the country is standing at the crossroads. On the one hand, the food providers of the country is protesting at the borders of Delhi for the last 44 days pressing for fulfilment of their justified demands, and on the other, the unbridled, insensitive and ruthless BJP government is engaged in breaking the backs of the poor farmers and the middle class.”

She also demanded that the government should take back the three farm laws immediately and accept all the demands made by the farmers.