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Every citizen anguished and deeply distressed regarding spiraling fuel and gas prices: Bhalla


Jammu, March 04 (Scoop News)-Senior Congress leaders including former Minister Raman Bhalla, Manmohan Singh, NSUI J&K President Sunny Parihar, Rajneesh Sharma, Gurdarshan Singh, Sanjeev Panda, Rajveer Singh, District President Jammu Rural Hari Singh Chib on Thursday led a strong protest at Maheshpura Chowk over rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas as a part of Congress nationwide protests against BJP Govt . The protest was organized by Corporators Dwarka Choudhary, Rajinder Jamwal, Ritu Chowdhury, Sobat Ali ,Bhanu Mahajan , Sonika Sharma, Rama Devi , Charanjit Kour. Hundreds of Congress activists assembled at Maheshpura Chowk with placards in their hands and raised slogans against the central government. The protesters were heading to ghreao Secretariat but their attempt was foiled by heavy deployment of Police. Prominent among those who participated in protest include Dr.Ramakant Khajuria, Vijay Malhotra, Balbir Thakyal, Sonu Dogra, Pardeep Bhalla, Pawan Dev Singh, Uttam Singh Chib, Virinder Manhas, Rajesh Sharma, Karan Bhagat, Varinder Singh Chib, Atul Sharma, Chander Shekhar Sharma, Pawan Sharma , Vijay Sharma, Parshotam Mehra, Camres David, Manu Jamwal, Rakesh Sharma, Ajay Kai, Rajkumar Meenia, Dewan Chand, Kewal Krishan Jogi, Vinay Sharma,Yash Pal Sangral, Vipin Sharma, Vijay Khajuria, Sdr. HS Baggi , Janak Raj, Gulshan, Pawan Kumar, Ajay Nayyar, Rajesh pal , Madhu, Balwinder , Rinku beside others.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhalla demanded that the BJP government should provide immediate relief to people from the rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. Petrol and diesel prices have been rising relentlessly and all the BJP luminaries who protested vociferously and wittily about oil prices during the UPA rule are now silent. They are seeking to explain how it is not the government's fault because crude prices are rising while the rupee is falling against the dollar or how the increased excise duties on petrol and diesel are helping in social programmes and infrastructure development. 'The way petrol, diesel and gas prices have increased is appalling. Gas cylinders now cost Rs 900 per unit. Kerosene oil is unavailable,' he added. Observing that this was "looting" the common man, he asked, 'What were the prices when the Modi government came to power? What are the prices now?' Billions of ordinary families across the country were shocked to see the price of cooking gas for domestic and commercial use. In absence of external pressures, what is the rationale behind such an increase in LPG prices. This has been baffling housewives. Cooking gas is also dearer as petrol and diesel prices continue to rise, thus people are being squeezed by the government for money.

Bhalla maintained that reality is that governments that shed crocodile tears for the common man have no qualms to see is a matter of concern that even those who rule the country do not have the common sense to understand that the increase in cooking gas prices is not like the increase in petrol and diesel prices. Does this mean that they value the will of the people so much? Such an attitude stems from the presumption common people will silently tolerate anything that is imposed on them. The price hike is not just for domestic LPG. Prices have also gone up for all types of commercial cylinders, including tea shops. There are people who make a living by running a small tea shop. There are many poor families who make and sell food products. They use commercial LPG cylinders. For all of them, the current price of cooking gas is unbearable. They have no choice but to increase the price of food proportionately. That, in turn, can lead to consumer resentment. Trade will also decline. The only solution to the current looting is to bring various fuels under GST. The popular demand is to reduce fuel prices from the current level. BJP must remember that respecting the will of the people is the basis for the survival and popularity of any government, added Bhalla.

Bhalla said by increasing the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders again, the Modi government has made it clear that it was not concerned about the problems of the common people, he said. Common people are badly hit by inflation. Petrol and diesel prices are increasing continuously despite the low prices of crude oil in the international market," he said. The cooking gas cylinder prices have increased by ₹ 75 within the last 14 days. "It is a pity for the Modi government that a new record is being set in the prices of petrol and diesel," he said. Much of this increase has happened in the last one year alone. In this one year, people have lost jobs and incomes, and inflation has soared. That’s a double whammy: fuel getting expensive just when people have less money in their pockets. Before 2014, fuel price hike was one of the strongest issues that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used to take up. Accusing the government of “profiteering” off “people’s misery”, He demanded reducing the prices by partially rolling back the excise duty. The truth is that as GDP “nosedives”, the prices of gas, diesel and petrol continue to rise unchecked, he said . He also said governments are elected to ease the burden of people and at the very least, not work directly contrary to their interests.

Former Minister further said that every citizen is anguished and deeply distressed regarding the spiraling 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.“Sadly, in these distressing times, the government has chosen to profiteer off people’s misery and suffering,” he said. Stressing that fuel prices are at an “historic and unsustainable” high, he said petrol has breached the Rs 100 per litre mark in many parts of the country and the surging price of diesel has added to the escalating woes of millions of farmers. What is equally distressing is that despite being in power for almost seven years now, the government continues to blame previous regimes for its own economic mismanagement, he said. He said that it is painful to note that government is justifying such thoughtless and insensitive measures directly at the cost of our people. BJP government has increased excise duty on diesel by 820% and on Petrol by 258% over and collected upwards of Rs. 21 lakh crore in the last six and a half years,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Manmohan Singh said that in the tenure of the BJP government, prices of petrol and diesel have soared so much that people feel helpless in affording hike in petroleum prices. Why is the BJP igniting the fire of inflation, after taking votes from the people in the name of reducing it?” he asked. He said that BJP in the name of development has thrown the public into the fire of inflation, unemployment. He expressed concern over increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, and urged the government to take cognizance of it and find a solution. The prices of essential items like petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) are increasing in an uncontrolled manner after government control over the prices were removed.

Hari Singh Chib in his address maintained that hike in petroleum products has created problems everywhere, and lives of the people are affected. The government should take cognizance of the seriousness of the situation and find a solution.“ The increase in additional taxes, especially on petrol and diesel, by the Centre and states is resulting in sky-rocketing prices, and the burden is increasing almost every day on crores of poor and unemployed people. The BJP leaders who used to protest over prices of petrol and diesel have kept mum now. He said the people of the country had "chosen PM Narendra Modi on the promise of good day, now he has broken the trust of the people .On one side there is an all-round inflation and on the other there is a spate of diesel-petrol-gas prices, added Chib.




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