Rahul Gandhi mocks PM Modi over one paisa cut in fuel prices, terms it a 'prank'

Prices of petrol and diesel were cut by one paisa on Wednesday, the first 'reduction' after 16 days of relentless price hikes. Congress President slammed the cut saying if this was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of a "prank", it was "childish and in poor taste".

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. PTI

NEW DELHI: Prices of petrol and diesel were cut by one paisa on Wednesday, the first 'reduction' after 16 days of relentless price hikes. Congress President slammed the cut saying if this was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of a "prank", it was "childish and in poor taste". Taking to Twitter, Rahul said: "Dear PM, You've cut the price of Petrol and Diesel today by 1 paisa. ONE paisa!?? If this is your idea of a prank, it’s childish and in poor taste." He further said the "one paisa" cut was not a "suitable response" to the fuel challenge he threw at Modi. "A ONE paisa cut is not a suitable response to the #FuelChallenge I threw you last week," he said.

Dear PM,

You've cut the price of Petrol and Diesel today by 1 paisa. ONE paisa!?? If this is your idea of a prank, it’s childish and in poor taste. P.S. A ONE paisa cut is not a suitable response to the #FuelChallenge I threw you last week. https://t.co/u7xzbUUjDS — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 30, 2018

Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Centre is planning a "holistic strategy" to deal with the spike in petrol and diesel prices triggered by a spurt in international rates. "The present oil price hike is due to three factors: Hike in the international price of crude, fluctuation in the dollar and Indian currency ratio and some tax issues of Centre and states. We have no control over the political developments in the Middle East, which affect oil prices," he said.

Present oil price hike is due to 3 factors: Hike in international price of crude, fluctuation in dollar & Indian currency ratio and some tax issues of Centre & states. When petroleum products will come within the ambit of GST, it will reduce petrol, diesel prices: Petroleum Min pic.twitter.com/0BsITBh4aZ

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) May 30, 2018

Last week, Rahul has posted a "fuel challenge" at Modi, soon after the prime minister accepted an online fitness dare from cricketer Virat Kohli. "Dear PM, Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here's one from me: Reduce fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response," Gandhi had written on Twitter using the hashtag 'FuelChallenge'.

Dear PM,

Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response.#FuelChallenge — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 24, 2018

Prices of petrol in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai reached record levels during last two weeks and were scaling new highs everyday.