Congress leads nationwide protests over high fuel prices
Indians set tyres on fire, vandalised petrol stations and blocked roads and railways yesterday as opposition parties led nationwide protests against rising fuel prices.
The protests were called by the opposition Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, who is looking to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in general elections expected early next year.
“Ever since the BJP came to power in 2014 fuel prices have been going up,” Mr Gandhi, 48, told a crowd in Delhi.
“Prime Minister Modi has failed to deliver on his promises to the people. Your money is being looted. Hatred is being spread. Wherever you see Indians are fighting one another.”
Police and demonstrators scuffled in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, which is held by the BJP but goes to the polls this year, as protesters attacked a petrol station. Similar incidents were reported in the financial centre of Mumbai, in Mr Modi’s home state of Gujarat, and in the eastern state of Bihar.
India’s rupee hit a record low of 72 to the dollar last week as emerging-market currencies suffered losses. This has made the country’s imports of oil, priced in dollars, more expensive.
Yesterday, the cost of petrol in New Delhi was 80.73 rupees (Dh4.1) a litre, and 72.83 rupees for a litre of diesel.
Mr Modi was confident in a speech on Sunday about the path towards the election.
“We do not see any challenge from the opposition,” he said. “Their allegations are based on falsehoods and a web of lies. When they were in power they were a failure and they are a failure even when they are in opposition.”