Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Modi dispensation demanding a rollback of the fuel price hike even as the party held nationwide protests against the Government over the rising petrol and diesel prices.
The grand old party has also decided to launch a five-day protest, starting June 30, against the fuel price hike in each block of the country. The party held symbolic protests in front of the Central government offices against the daily fuel price hike.The Congress workers used bullock carts, cycles and other means to demonstrate against the government.
Since the daily price revision resumed on June 7, petrol price has increased by Rs 9.12 and diesel rose by Rs 11.01 in the national capital. Petrol prices in the other metros of Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata were at Rs 87.14, Rs 83.59 and Rs s 82.05 per litre respectively.
As a part of the party's 'speak up' campaign, Sonia Gandhi in a video appeal asked the government to cut taxes and lower the burden on the consumers during the time of the coronavirus when people are already suffering economically.
"I along with the Congress workers and citizens demand that the government should take back the hike in prices of diesel and petrol in these tough times," said Sonia Gandhi in her video message.
She alleged that the government was "insensitive" towards the people's problems as it increased the prices 22 times in three months.
"The Government has earned extra Rs 18 lakh crore since 2014 and the crude oil prices have decreased worldwide," said Sonia. She said that in the national capital and other metros, the cost of petrol and diesel has crossed Rs 80 a litre.
Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the central government for the rising fuel prices and urged people to join the campaign against it. Rahul shared a video wherein a person could be heard saying that the government is 'rubbing salt on the wounds of people' by increasing the prices at a time when people are either unemployed or not receiving salaries.
"Amid coronavirus pandemic and tensions with China, the Centre has left the common man to fend for themselves. It is looting the country by increasing the price of petrol and diesel from the past 21 days. The poor and middle class people are helpless," Rahul said in a statement.
Rahul Gandhi urge the protessting party workers and people to raise their voice against the hike, so that it lands on the "deaf ears of the government".
"Today as a symbol of protest against the unjustifiable hikes in fuel prices, I rode my bicycle to Parliament as part of the nationwide movement started by Congress Party," said KC.Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, in a party statement.
