Country at crossroads: Sonia slams Centre over gasoline value hike, farmers stir

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Modi authorities over persevering with farmers agitation and hike in gasoline costs together with petrol and diesel.
Saying that petrol & diesel costs have been on the highest in final 73 years, Sonia Gandhi stated that “insensitive and ruthless” BJP-led authorities was bent upon breaking the again of poor farmers and center class.
In a press release, she demanded revocation of three farm legal guidelines and referred to as for fulfilling calls for of agitating farmers. She stated that the Modi authorities was making “disaster an opportunity to fill its treasure” amid the adversarial affect of coronavirus on the economic system.
“For the first time in the history of independent India, the country is at crossroads today. On the one hand, the food providers of the country are protesting on the borders of Delhi in support of their legitimate demands on the borders of Delhi for the last 44 days, at the same time the autocratic, insensitive and ruthless BJP government of the country is busy breaking the back of the poor peasants and middle class,” she stated.
The Congress chief stated Modi authorities has taken Rs 19 lakh crore from the pockets of the widespread man by way of the rise in excise duties within the final six-and-a-half years.

“Today the price of crude oil is USD 50.96 per barrel i.e. just Rs 23.43 per litre. Despite this, diesel is being sold for Rs 74.38 and petrol at Rs 84.20 per litre. This is the highest in the last 73 years. Despite lower prices in the international market, the government has broken all records of profiteering by increasing excise duty massively instead of giving benefit to people,” she stated.
She stated the value of fuel cylinders has additionally elevated “and budget of every household disturbed”.
In the midst of collapsing economic system as a result of Coronavirus lockdown, the Modi authorities is making an attempt to show the catastrophe into alternative to fill its coffers, she stated.

 
“I demand that the rates of excise duty on petrol and diesel be similar to that in the UPA government to provide immediate relief to people. I also urge the government to repeal all three farming laws immediately and fulfill all the demands of the farmers,” she stated.