New Delhi: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president and state minister KT Rama Rao slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the hike in fuel prices and ‘misleading’ the country by citing Russia-Ukraine conflict as the reason behind the hike.
Writing an open letter to the PM, KTR said, “I am writing this open letter to the Central Government on the hike in petrol prices every day. On one hand, the BJP Government at the Centre is constantly raising prices. But, on the other hand, it is trying to push the blame on state governments. This is blatant lying and totally unacceptable. That is why I am writing this letter to expose the inefficient policies of the Central Government which have inflated petrol rates in an unforeseen manner.”
Hitting out at the BJP leaders for promulgating lies such as fuel prices were rising in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France and other countries, KTR wrote, “Union ministers who say prices are rising in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, and even France, are deliberately hiding that the litre petrol rate there is lower than ours. The petrol products are still available at cheaper rates in some of our neighboring countries, including Sri Lanka, which is reeling under the financial crisis.”
“In 2014, the price of petrol per litre was Rs 70.51, and the price of diesel per litre was Rs 53.78. The Modi government gradually increased the prices to Rs 118.19 and Rs 104.62 respectively. Internationally, the price of crude oil is currently $ 106. It is crucial to note that the price of crude oil in 2014 was still the same. But the price of a litre of petrol in our country is not the same as in 2014. How did this happen? What are the reasons behind it? It is the responsibility of the BJP leaders to answer to the people for what purposes they are raising prices like this,” KTR further wrote.
‘’When he [PM Modi] was in opposition, he shed crocodile tears over the sufferings of the poor and the plight of common people. However, he has been ruling the nation completely ignoring the welfare of the people since he came to power," he added.
He also alleged that the increase in excise duty during the Covid crisis is “proof of the cruelty and indifference of the Narendra Modi government’’ against the poor and middle class.
KTR, in his letter, also flagged that the prices of household gas, pulses, and medicines are also rising sharply. “With the price of cooking gas crossing a thousand, people have started using wood again. Agricultural investment is rising. What are the achievements of the BJP during the seven and half years of rule except raising pieces of everything,” he wrote.
The TRS chief concluded the letter by demanding an explanation on the performance of Modi’s “incompetent government and its failures” and sought an apology for “failing to curb the rise in petrol prices.”
“Before coming to power, Narendra Modi used the petrol prices hike issue as a political weapon. He must remember his words and deeds at that time… On behalf of the people of the country, I urge the government to take immediate steps to reduce petrol rates to benefit the people,” KTR concluded.