New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP government of “loot” in the name of “fuel” by collecting Rs ten lakh crore in taxes on petrol, LPG and diesel and not passing on the benefit of falling international crude price to the common people.
“The BJP government collected 10,00,000 crore in taxes on petrol/LPG/diesel since 2014. Yet, no relief in prices for our citizens,” he said in a tweet.
Gandhi shared a one minute forty two seconds long video on Twitter, saying “this video shows the truth about fuel prices under PM Modi”.
The video shows that “despite international crude oil prices dropping up to 67 per cent in four years of Modi government, petrol, diesel prices are skyrocketing”.
The Congress chief said that increasing prices of fuel were a symbol of the failure of the central government.
“The government that promised ‘Achhe Din’ is silent. Let’s rewind BJP’s stand on petrol-diesel prices. Increasing petrol prices are symbol of failure of central government. People are angry and it will have negative impact on other sectors.”
In the video, Rahul alleged that more than Rs 50,000 crore in taxes was collected every year but the government was not reducing the petrol prices.
“After coming to power, the Modi government has looted common people of Rs 10,00,000 crore by taxing gas, diesel and petrol. Since 2014, Modi government increased central tax on petrol by Rs 8.78 litre, diesel by Rs 10.37 litre.”
Gandhi’s video says that the people friendly Congress government in Karnataka has reduced state tax on petrol by Rs 3.11 litre, diesel by Rs 1.03 litre in the last five years.
“At least 18.11 crore LPG customers suffering under the greedy Modi government. Subsidized LPG cylinder Rs 491.35 in Delhi, Rs 427 in Bengaluru (due to reduced taxes in Karnataka). Non-subsidized LPG cylinder Rs 635.5 in Delhi, Rs 622.5 in Bengaluru (due to reduced taxes in Karnataka),” shows the video.
It further shows “BJP is cruel, they loot in the name of fuel”.
Similar sentiments were echoed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday when he too accused the central government of punishing common man by not passing on the benefits of low petroleum prices internationally to the people here.
“Petrol and diesel prices in India are at a historic high. This is in spite of lower international crude oil prices because the Modi government chooses to levy excessive excise taxes. Instead of passing on the benefit of low prices to people, the Modi government has sought to punish our people,” the Congress leader said at a press conference here.
The government’s “lack of reasoning and analysis is affecting India and our collective future,” Singh said.
The renowned economist also railed against the government for not making good in terms of growth rate despite “favourable international climate”, something which, he said, its predecessor had done facing “turbulent global condition”.