Panaji: Former Congress President, Rahul Gandhi was present in Goa on Saturday ahead of the 2022 Assembly Elections. He kickstarted Congress' Goa Election campaign by holding a meeting with the fisherman community of Goa. While talking to the people at an event, Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre on the rising prices of petrol and diesel.
He said that India is imposing higher taxes on fuel despite the rates being low in the international market. He also said that 'only 4-5 people are benefitting from this price hike.
Rahul Gandhi was, in fact, replying to a query he was asked to by a fisherman. The fisherman asked if Congress would promise to bring the rates of petrol down as it affects their livelihood. To which Rahul Gandhi replied saying, "During UPA govt, international fuel prices reached $140 per barrel. Today fuel prices are much lower in the international market but still you pay more. Today India taxing fuel the highest in the world."
Without naming anyone, Gandhi implied that 4-5 people are being benefitted from the fuel price hike. "To whom is this money going? who is being benefited? If you look carefully there're 4-5 businessmen who are benefitting from this," he said.
"It is not that petrol in the international market is costly, the petrol is costly only in India," he added.
Fuel prices have reached new record levels. In Delhi, the price of both fuels has increased by 35-35 paise today. Notably, from the month of May 2020 till now, there has been an increase of about Rs 36 per litre in petrol prices in the country. At the same time, diesel prices have increased by Rs 26.58 per litre in these 18 months.
Price of petrol & diesel in Delhi is at Rs 108.99 per litre (up by Rs 0.35) & Rs 97.72 per litre (up by Rs 0.35) respectively today.