‘Historic, Unsustainable excessive’: Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi over rising gas costs

Image Source : PTI Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi over rising gas costs, says they’re at ‘historic, unsustainable’ excessive
Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over “spiralling” gas and fuel costs, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday accused the federal government of “profiteering” off “people’s misery” and demanded a rollback of the rise in costs. In a letter to Modi, she mentioned the reality is that as GDP “nosedives”, the costs of fuel, diesel and petrol proceed to rise unchecked.

“I write to you to convey every citizen’s anguish and deep distress regarding the spiralling fuel and gas prices. On one hand, India is witnessing systematic erosion of jobs, wages and household income. The middle class and those at the margins of our society are struggling. These challenges have been compounded by runaway inflation and an unprecedented rise in price of almost all household items and essential commodities,” the Congress chief mentioned.

“Sadly, in these distressing times, the government has chosen to profiteer off people’s misery and suffering,” Gandhi mentioned.

Petrol worth on Saturday touched an all-time excessive of Rs 97 per litre in Mumbai whereas diesel charge crossed Rs 88-mark. This was the twelfth straight day of worth hike and the biggest every day improve since oil corporations began to revise charges every day in 2017.

READ MORE: West Bengal govt reduces tax by Re 1 per litre on petrol, diesel

The improve pushed the petrol worth to Rs 90.58 a litre in Delhi and to Rs 97 in Mumbai.

Stressing that gas costs are at a “historic and unsustainable” excessive, Gandhi mentioned petrol has breached the Rs 100 per litre mark in lots of components of the nation and the surging worth of diesel has added to the escalating woes of hundreds of thousands of farmers.

“What baffles most citizens, is that these prices have been increased despite moderate prices of international crude oil. To put it in context, the crude oil price is nearly half of what it was during the UPA government’s tenure. Therefore, your government’s act of raising prices (continuously for 12 days till February 20th) is little less than a brazen act of profiteering,” she mentioned.

What is equally distressing is that regardless of being in energy for nearly seven years now, the federal government continues accountable earlier regimes for its personal financial mismanagement, she mentioned in her letter to Modi.

To set the document straight, home crude oil manufacturing has fallen to an 18-year low in 2020, Gandhi mentioned.

Governments are elected to ease the burden of individuals and on the very least, not work immediately opposite to their pursuits, the Congress chief mentioned.

“I urge you to roll back these increases and pass on the benefit to our middle and salaried class, our farmers and poor and our fellow citizens. It is they who are battling an unprecedented economic slowdown, widespread unemployment, wage reductions and job losses, high prices and erosion of income,” she mentioned.

READ MORE: ‘No reply besides…’: Nirmala Sitharaman on rising petrol, diesel costs

“I hope you will agree that it is time for your government to focus on solutions instead of looking for excuses. India deserves better,” Gandhi mentioned.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday had mentioned the Centre and state governments must collectively to work out a mechanism to deliver retail charges of petrol and diesel to cheap ranges. 

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