Punjab Congress party members and leaders on Monday staged protest here against the BJP-led government, accusing it of letting the prices of essential commodities spiral.
Congress members started a ‘protest march’ from MLA hostel towards the Governor House. They were, however, stopped by the city police outside the MLA hostel ahead of the Governor House, where the Congress members shouted slogans against the Central government, accusing it of “crushing the poor under the burden of ever high prices of LPG, diesel and petrol.”
Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said the BJP had garnered votes of poor in the name of development but has completely forsaken them now. “Poor who were already reeling under the COVID-19 stress now can’t make their ends meet while PM’s close corporate friends become richer each second by millions,” alleged Mr. Jakhar.
“The Centre has decimated small and medium businesses, resulting in millions of job and livelihood losses across various sectors of economy. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh never let the prices of fuel rise even when the crude oil became costly in the international market,” said Mr. Jakhar.
“Despite low crude prices internationally, the Centre has not passed on the benefit to the public. Dr. Manmohan Singh had ensured that buying petrol and diesel remains within the reach of poor by subsidising it for masses when prices rose internationally,” he added.
“Rise in prices of diesel and petrol has a cascading impact, which has broken the backbone of those marginalised and poor households that are finding it difficult to make their ends meet,” said Mr. Jakhar. He added prices of diesel and petrol should be around ₹30 and ₹35 per litre ideally as per the lower crude oil prices, while the rate of LPG cylinder should be ₹300 only.
Mr. Jakhar also targeted Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party, accusing them of playing ‘negative politics. “Both these outfits now only exist as BJP spokespersons,” he accused, questioning their silence over rise in prices under the BJP rule.
