The Congress has called for a Bharat Bandh on Monday alleging that the rising prices of petroleum products is a scam worth ₹11-lakh crore, while also inviting other Opposition parties to join the protest. The Left parties have backed the strike-call, and the Trinamool Congress, while backing the protests, said it would not take part in the bandh.
The Congress’ decision came after a meeting of its general secretaries, State in-charges and State presidents here on Thursday. Senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and Mallikarjun Kharge have been asked to reach out to other political parties. Talking to reporters, Patel said he was hopeful that all political parties would support the strike call. He said the prices of fuel had reached a point whereby it was necessary for the Opposition to ventilate the people’s feelings.
The Congress alleged that the rise in prices is a scam worth ₹11-lakh crore. “On May 16, 2014, price of petrol was ₹51.78 per litre. Today it is ₹79.51 per litre. Price of diesel in 2014 was ₹44 per litre. Today it is ₹71 per litre in Delhi. A RTI query has revealed that the Modi government is selling diesel for ₹34 per litre and petrol for ₹37 per litre to other countries, whereas in India the price is too high,” Congress’s media in-charge, Randeep Singh Surjewala, said.
He said the excise duty on petrol, which was ₹9 per litre in May 2014, is currently ₹19 per litre.
“The excise duty on diesel in 2014 was ₹3 and today it is approximately ₹15. PM Modi has collected ₹11,00,000 crore by this hike. Where has the money gone?” Surjewala asked.
The party also pointed to the increase in the price of LPG from ₹400 to ₹800. Prices of items of daily use have been inflated by the Modi government. Gehlot said the parties will also hold protest sit-ins in front of petrol pumps. “The States and the Centre had reduced the taxes on petroleum products during the UPA’s time. Now, the Centre is not ready to forego taxes on petroleum products,” he said.
Gehlot added that the bandh will be from 9 am to 3 pm on Monday so that the common people are not inconvenienced. The Congress has also been demanding that the petroleum prices should be brought under the ambit of GST. The regional and Left parties, however, are opposed to this decision.