Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi govt over increased fuel prices, demands rollback

Terming increase as “insensitive” that burnt a hole in common man’s pocket, Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to PM Modi, asking him to pass on benefit of reduced international crude oil rates to consumers

Congress president Sonia Gandhi 
Congress president Sonia Gandhi
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NH Political Bureau

Enraged by the continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices for nine days in a row, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the issue and demanded a rollback of the fuel prices.

Terming the increase as “insensitive” that burnt a hole in common man’s pocket, Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to PM Modi, asking him to pass on the benefit of reduced international crude oil rates to consumers.

“If you want citizens to be self-reliant then do not place financial fetters on their ability to move forward,” said Sonia, adding, “I am deeply distressed that in these exceedingly difficult times since the beginning of March, the government has taken the wholly insensitive decision to increase petrol and diesel prices on no less than ten separate occasions”.

In her letter, Gandhi pointed out that the hike in fuel prices came at a time when the country is facing unprecedented public health, economic and social challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sonia’s letter came a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi criticised the government over the increase in petrol and diesel prices.

“Your government is seeking to earn an additional revenue of nearly Rs 2,60,000 crore by these ill-advised hikes in excise duty and increases in the petrol of diesel. As it is, people across the board are facing unimaginable hardships what to say of widespread fear and insecurity,” the Congress chief said.

“These price increases are saddling our people with an additional burden of this enormous magnitude that is neither justified nor appropriate. It is the duty and responsibility of the government to alleviate suffering, not put the people to still greater hardship,” she added.


Apart from demanding that the benefit of low international crude oil prices should be passed on to the consumers, the Congress president demanded that the rates of petrol, diesel and LPG be reduced to the August 2004 level.

The price of petrol then was Rs 36.81 per litre, diesel was sold at Rs 24.16 per litre and LPG Rs 261.60 per cylinder in Delhi, the letter asserted.

Questioned the “logic” behind such an increase, Sonia said, “This translates into a 258% increase in excise on petrol and 820% hike in excise duty on diesel, yielding in these six years a staggering Rs 18,00,000 crore from excise collection on petrol and diesel alone. If ever there was ever a time to deploy these resources in the service of the people, it is now”.

The price of petrol was increased by 47 paise a litre on Monday while that of diesel was hiked by 57 paise a litre in Delhi. Petrol and diesel will now cost Rs 76.73 per litre and Rs 75.19 per litre respectively in the national capital after the increase.


Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi govt over increased fuel prices, demands rollback
Sonia Gandhi hits out at Modi govt over increased fuel prices, demands rollback

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