Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Narendra Modi opposing petrol, diesel prices hike

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday shot a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an immediate rollback in the regular increase in the prices of petrol and diesel.

“I see no logic in why the government would even consider such a price increase at a time when the economic impact of COVID-19 is depriving millions of jobs and livelihoods, devastating business big and small, rapidly eroding the income of middle class, even as farmers are struggling to sow crops for the kharif season,” Gandhi said.

She also reiterated the Congress demand to use government resources to put money directly into the hands of those who need it in this time of severe hardship.

Also read — Petrol and diesel prices hiked for 10th straight day; Petrol to cost 47 paise more per litre, diesel 93 paise

Since June 7, oil marketing companies have been increasing petrol and diesel prices every day, making the fuel costliest since October 2018, when global crude prices were at a record high. In 10 hikes, the petrol price has gone up by Rs 5.47 per litre and diesel by Rs 5.8 a litre.

On the contrary, global crude prices have slumped due to the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide owing to low demand.

“Your government is seeking to earn an additional revenue of nearly Rs 2.60 lakh crore by these ill-advised hikes in excise duty and increases in the prices of petrol and diesel,” Gandhi said pointing out that the excise duty has been increased by 258% and 820% on petrol and diesel respectively in the last six years.

The Congress President claimed that the government had earned Rs 18 lakh crore over the past six years from excise collection on diesel and petrol alone.

“I urge you to roll back these increases and pass on the benefit of low oil prices directly to the citizens of the country,” she said.

She said the increase in petrol and diesel prices were saddling the people with an additional burden of enormous magnitude that was neither justified nor appropriate.

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the tenth straight day on Tuesday after an 82-day break from rate revision amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic. Petrol price hiked by 47 paise per litre, diesel by record 93 paise per litre.