Senior Congress leader and party’s communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Friday said that the party will hold a nationwide protest on September 10 over rising fuel prices in the country.
“The Congress party will be giving a call for Bharat Bandh on September 10 to highlight the Rs 11 lakh crore fuel loot and to demand an immediate reduction in central excise duty as also excessive VAT in the states,” said Surjewala while talking to the mediapersons here.
Surjewala, an MLA from Kaithal said that the party MLAs will also raise the issue of rising fuel prices during the monsoon session of Haryana Assembly. The party will move an adjournment motion in the State Assembly to discuss the issue, he said.
Congress will also demand that petrol and diesel should be brought within the ambit of the GST, he said.
The government has earned crores of rupees by imposing a tax on petrol and diesel, Surjewala alleged.
During the meeting of party MLAs, it has been decided that all MLAs will visit their constituencies during Saturday and Sunday and hold meetings with trade unions, auto-rickshaw unions and other organizations to seek their support for Bharat Bandh, he said,
The Congress leader further alleged that today, the common man is bearing the brunt of the escalating prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
On May 16, 2014, when the Congress demitted office, international crude oil prices were far higher at around USD 106 per barrel and petrol price was Rs 71.41 and diesel at Rs 55.49 per litre. In comparison, the present international prices of crude oil are around 73-77 USD per barrel, he added
While launching a scathing attack on the BJP led Central Government over the record fall in rupee against the dollar, Surjewala said that those who shouted against the fall in rupee value in 2014 are now quiet.