Congress calls for 'Bharat Bandh' against fuel price hike on September 10

Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the Centre, alleging it has in the last four years earned Rs. 11,00,000 crore by levying taxes on fuel but failed to answer that in whose pocket this huge amount has gone.

Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the Centre, alleging it has in the last four years earned Rs. 11,00,000 crore by levying taxes on fuel but failed to answer that in whose pocket this huge amount has gone. Photo: ABP News

NEW DELHI: Calling out "lies" of the Narendra Modi government on rising petrol and diesel prices and devaluation of the Indian rupee, the Congress on Thursday said the NDA regime has failed on all fronts in the last four years. Addressing a press conference here, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that before coming to power Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised "many things" but failed to fulfil any of them. Referring to soaring fuel prices, Gehlot said the economic mismanagement by the Modi government resulted in price hikes. When fuel prices rose during the UPA regime, taxes were reduced to take the burden off people, he said. The Congress leader said his party has called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on September 10 to "awaken" the government from slumber. "We appeal to all the people of the country to join us in protests in every corner of the country on September 10. All the activists and NGOs of the country should also join the agitation against mismanagement of the economy by the Modi government," he said. Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the Centre, alleging it has in the last four years earned Rs. 11,00,000 crore by levying taxes on fuel but failed to answer that in whose pocket this huge amount has gone. "On May 2014, excise duty on petrol was Rs. 9 per litre, today it is Rs. 19 per litre while the excise duty on diesel in 2014 was Rs. 3 and today it is Rs. 15 approximately," he claimed. "On May 16, 2014, the price of petrol was Rs. 51.78 per litre, today it is Rs. 79.51 per litre. Price of diesel in May 2014 was Rs. 44 per litre, today it is Rs. 71 per litre in Delhi. Modiji has collected Rs. 11,00,000 crore by this hike," he added. Quoting an RTI, Surjewala said it has "revealed" that the Modi government is selling diesel for Rs. 34 per litre and petrol for Rs. 37 per litre to other countries whereas in India the fuel prices have reached a record high. "A movement will be called on September 10 against the 'fuel loot', by which the Modi government has profited Rs. 11,00,000 crore, he said, adding that petrol and diesel should've been brought under the GST, but the Centre has refused to do so. Surjewala said the Indian Rupee is the most devalued currency in Asia but Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are not worried about it. He said all the "like-minded opposition parties" have agreed to join Congress' protest on September 10 demanding reduction in prices of petrol and diesel.