Sonia demands rollback in fuel price hike
NEW DELHI: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday demanded a rollback of the fuel price hike as the party held nationwide protests against the government over the rising fuel prices. As a part of the party’s ‘’speak up’’ campaign, Sonia in a video asked the government to cut taxes and lower the burden on the consumers during the time of the coronavirus. “I along with the citizens demand that the government to take back the hike in prices of diesel and petrol in these tough times,” she said.
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday attacked the BJP government at the Centre for raising fuel prices 22 times since the lockdown, accusing it of extorting people, and sought an immediate rollback of the hikes.
She charged the government with profiteering at the expense of the people, saying its duty was to help them in times of crisis and not make profits out of their hard-earned money. Participating in the Congress’ “Speak Up Against Fuel Hike” campaign across the country, she said on the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc and on the other, the rise in petrol and diesel prices was making life very difficult for the people.
The Congress launched the countrywide campaign on Monday to press the central government to roll back fuel prices as they were hurting the common people. Party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the campaign on social media, and urged people to join them in pressing the government to reduce fuel prices.
“I, along with all Congressmen and others together, demand from the Modi government to immediately roll back the increase in prices of petrol and diesel raised during this crisis due to the corona pandemic,” Sonia Gandhi said in a video message. I also urge them to roll back the rise in excise duty on petrol and diesel since March this year and give this benefit to the countrymen. This will be a big relief in this period of economic crisis,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi asked the government to stop profiteering from the motor fuel and roll back the recent hikes. The prices of petrol and diesel have increased 22 times during the lockdown. In a video, released here on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said, “The affect of rise in diesel and petrol prices are two-fold. One that you pay directly, and the other due to risenin prices of consumer products, including essential items.”