Rahul Gandhi Calls Fuel Price Hike Unfair, Demands Rollback

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi calls an increase in excise duty on fuel unfair. He demanded an immediate rollback of the increased prices.

(Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP)

New Delhi: Raising the issue of petrol, diesel price hike Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded an immediate rollback of increased fuel prices calling it ‘unfair’.  Gandhi said the rise in petrol and diesel prices is unfair and said that the pandemic is causing economic hardship to all and that the government should reduce the prices than raise them. Gandhi has demanded a rollback of the increased prices on the fuels.

" “The ongoing battle with the coronavirus is causing severe economic hardship for our crores of brothers and sisters. At this time, instead of reducing prices, the decision of the government to raise prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 10-13 per litre is unfair and should be withdrawn." "

-Rahul Gandhi

The government increased the excise duty on petrol by a record Rs 10 per litre for petrol and Rs 10 by Rs 13 per litre for diesel. According to reports, the retail prices of petrol and diesel will not be impacted as three state-run oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corp, BPCL and HPCL will absorb the entire hike in the excise duty. Several states have also increased VAT charges on the two fuels which have made petrol and diesel costlier.

In the national capital, petrol prices increased Rs 1.67 a litre and diesel by a steep Rs 7.10 per litre after the Delhi government raised local sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) on the two fuels. Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 71.26 a litre as against Rs 69.59 previously, oil industry sources said. Diesel price has been hiked to Rs 69.39 per litre from Rs 62.29.