'Petrol, Diesel Now More Expensive Than Desi Ghee': Congress Leader Sachin Pilot Targets Centre Over Inflation

"This (BJP) government is deliberately putting the burden of inflation on people," Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot said.

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Dehradun: Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot reached Dehradun today. After reaching Jolly Grant at 10.30 am, Sachin Pilot came directly to Congress Bhavan by road and met the senior party leaders.

This visit was about speaking against the policies of the central government. Before the elections, Sachin Pilot tried to instill solidarity among all the leaders of the party. 

After meeting the senior Congress leaders, Sachin Pilot held a press conference wherein he attacked the central government fiercely.

Pilot made many allegations against the central government, especially taking about inflation. He said that the central government is adept at giving speeches but is not giving any relief to the public in the times of inflation.

"Country is facing inflation at its peak and a lot of families are not getting enough food on time," he said.

About the rising prices of petrol and diesel in the country, Sachin Pilot remarked that "at this time, the prices of petrol and diesel have become more expensive than desi ghee. Due to the continuous increase in the price of petrol and diesel, every item is getting expensive and its direct effect is being borne by the general public".

He also fiercely attacked the Uttarakhand government over inflation.

Talking about the Modi government, he said: "In most of the states, the price of petrol has reached above Rs 100. Petrol prices have been increased 66 times in the last 6 months. This shows the policies of the central government that it is taking more interest in increasing inflation rather than reducing it".

"When the Congress government was in power at the Centre, we used to oppose all the proposals that came for increasing the price of petrol. But this government is deliberately putting the burden of inflation on people," he added.

"Despite 23 crore of population came below the poverty line in past 7 years, excise duty in petrol and diesel is being increased. The Government of India has imposed a cess of Rs 33 per liter on petrol and Rs 32 on diesel," the former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan said.

Pilot brought up the matter of farmers' protests saying that the farmers have been agitating for a long time and the government is not listening to their problems.

Elections will be held under collective leadership in 2022 - Sachin Pilot

The assembly elections will be held in Uttarakhand in 2022, Sachin Pilot said that Congress has an established tradition wherein elections are fought under collective leadership. The leader is selected only after the election.

He said, unlike BJP, Congress does not have a tradition of changing the Chief Minister thrice in a year. Pilot added that when Congress comes to power, the leader is elected unanimously by all the MLAs and governments run under that leadership. In 2022, Congress government will be formed in Uttarakhand with a full majority, he claimed.