With the trend in price movement of fuels over past couple of months, petrol would be nationally available at Rs 100 per litre or more soon. Diesel is also catching up fast to hit century across the country.
Petrol is most expensive in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar where it now retailing at Rs 109.67 per litre. Even diesel in the city is priced at a high of Rs 102.12 a litre. In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, petrol is priced at Rs 104.56, Rs 99.48 and Rs 98.30 per litre, respectively.
Raising this issue, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday slammed the Centre over rising fuel prices and asked why the government is making the taxes on petrol and diesel a means to "loot" the people.
In a Facebook post, the Congress general secretary said that in 2013, when the price of crude oil in the international market was USD 101 per barrel, then the people were getting petrol for Rs 66 per litre and diesel for Rs 51 per litre. At that time, the central government used to charge only Rs 9 per litre on petrol and Rs 3 per litre on diesel, she pointed out.
"In 2021, the BJP government is charging you Rs 33 in taxes on every single litre of petrol and Rs 32 on diesel. The BJP government has increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel 12 times," Priyanka Gandhi said.
Even today, the oil prices in the international market are much lower than in 2013, but this year the government has increased the prices of petrol and diesel more than 50 times, she said slamming the Centre.
People across India seem o be echoing the same sentiments as many have taken to social media to criticise the hike in fuel prices.
Here's how people are reacting. Have a look.
(By agencies)
