Congress slams 4th fuel hike in 10 days, calls PM Modi ‘Inflation Man’, ‘Mehengai Manav’
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge warned that “fuel loot” will have a cascading effect on every aspect of the economy, and will hurt the poor and the middle class. He pointed out that the Modi govt has increased petrol prices by 43% and diesel by 68% since 2014. While leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi called PM Narendra Modi as “mehengai manav” (inflation man), AICC general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala noted that petrol price has crossed Rs 110 per litre for the first time in 78 years after independence.As Congress slammed the 4th hike in fuel prices in the last ten days, Kharge said, “Modi govt has sprinkled Petrol to burn the savings of common people.”Rahul added, “The ‘inflation man’ has struck again. They raise petrol-diesel prices in instalments, so that you are fleeced very quietly. I’ve been warning for months about an approaching economic storm. But Modi, as always, was busy with elections at the time — and no sooner had the elections ended than petrol-diesel prices were hiked by Rs 8. And this hike will continue. ‘Inflation Man Modi’s’ only job is to make promises during elections and attack the public’s pocket later.”Surjewala accused the ruling BJP of “looting” Rs 57 lakh crore in the last 12 years. “Every day, fuel loot is picking the pockets of the common man. The last 11 days have been catastrophic on the pockets of the salaried class, farmers, businessmen, homemakers, small businesses, and the common man,” he added.Congress president Kharge said the Modi govt lacks vision of governance, but it can learn from the UPA govt under PM Manmohan Singh which managed to stave off big global crises like the subprime debacle, while ensuring that India grew economically, and the poor and the middle classes were not burdened financially.