Petrol Price Hiked 78 Times, Diesel On 76 Occasions In 2021-22, Centre Informs Parliament

Petrol and diesel prices have been market determined with effect from 26 June 2010 and 19 October 2014 respectively, the minister said.

New Delhi: In response to a question raised by Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Gas Rameswar Teli, in a written reply said that the prices of petrol and diesel have increased by 78 and 76 times respectively during the financial year 2021-22. Sharing the reply on Twitter, Chadha said that this is a clear confession by the government of "looting" the common man.

"In reply to my question in Rajya Sabha, Central Government conceded that the prices of petrol and diesel have been hiked 78 times and 76 times respectively in the last one year. This is a clear confession by the Government of looting the common man," Chadha said.

Petrol and diesel prices have been market determined with effect from 26 June 2010 and 19 October 2014 respectively, Teli said. Since then Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) take appropriate decisions on the pricing of petrol and diesel. Rameshwar Teli replied that in addition, public sector OMCs have implemented daily revision of Retail Selling Price (RSP) of petrol and diesel across the country with effect from June 16, 2017.

Meanwhile, four Congress MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for the entire Parliament session on Monday for holding protests and raising slogans against price rise inside the House. The four Congress MPs are Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, Jothimani and TN Prathapan, ANI reported. The Congress MPs were earlier warned by Speaker Om Birla, who asked them to behave and demonstrate outside the House.

Later, Parliamentary Affair Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a resolution to suspend the four Congress MPs for the rest of the Monsoon session.

The House then passed the resolution by a voice vote and Rajendra Agarwal, who was chairing the proceedings, announced their suspension.

Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the government was trying to intimidate it by suspending the MPs but the party won't be "cowed down". The party said the MPs were trying to raise issues that matter to the people.

"The MPs were holding placards raising the issues of rise in prices of gas cylinder, imposition of GST on items such as flour and buttermilk. We moved an adjournment motion demanding a discussion on these issues, but no discussion was held," PTI quoted Gogoi as saying.