Reacting to the cut in the prices of petrol and diesel, the Congress on Thursday said the move was like “applying band aid after inflicting a thousand wounds” and linked the decision to the forthcoming Assembly elections.
“Facing public ire as also imminent defeat in the five election-bound States, the Modi government has attempted to apply band-aid after inflicting a thousand wounds by massive profiteering through Central excise duty and customs in the prices of petrol and diesel and other petro products,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference.
Steep hike in excise duty
The Congress claimed that since May 2014, the government had raised excise duty on petrol by 211% and on diesel by 443% to collect taxes to the tune of ₹13 lakh crore over the past 52 months.
The Congress spokesperson claimed that the government had been selling fuel at a much lower price to several foreign countries while “duping” the domestic users.
“Petrol and diesel in India is sold in the range of ₹84 to ₹91 and ₹75 to ₹80 respectively [Delhi & Mumbai] but an RTI reply has revealed that Modi government is selling petrol to 15 foreign countries at just ₹34 a litre and selling diesel to 29 foreign countries at a pittance of ₹37 only,” Mr. Surjewala said.
“It is too little, too late,” CPI leader D. Raja said.
