Surjewala says Modi govt. cheated the people of India
Surjewala says Modi govt. cheated the people of India
Congress on Saturday announced a three-phase campaign “Mehngai-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” against price hikes, organizing rallies and marches across the country from March 31 to April 7.
The announcement came after Congress President Sonia Gandhi met with party secretaries-general and heads of state, where the party reviewed its membership campaign and also discussed future programmes, particularly after its recent dismal performance in five general elections.
The party is calling for the price increases for fuel and cooking gas to be reversed. At a press conference, the Secretary-General of the Party (Communications) said the people of India had been betrayed, duped and deceived by the Modi government. “For 137 days, the government left prices of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinders, pipeline natural gas and CNG unchanged to secure votes in the five general elections. And now that the elections are over, the government is slowly raising prices every day,” Mr Surjewala said.
In the last five days, the price of petrol and diesel has increased by ₹3.20 per liter. Mr. Surjewala pointed out that over the past eight years, the BJP government has increased the excise duty on gasoline by an additional ₹18.70 per liter and on diesel by an additional ₹18.34 per liter. He also lashed out at the ruling government for drastically cutting subsidies. Citing statistics from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), he said that in 2011-12 the UPA Congress-led government provided a ₹1.42,000 crore subsidy for petrol, diesel and LPG. This amount has dropped to 11,729 crores in 2020-21.
The three-phase agitation begins on March 31st. The party has called on its workers to protest in front of their homes and public places. He said people would wreath LPG cylinders, bang drums and ring bells to highlight the issue of inflation and draw the attention of the “deaf BJP government to the insurmountable rise in cooking gas, petrol and diesel prices.”
From April 2 to 4, the congress will organize district-level dharnas and marches across the country together with non-governmental organizations, religious, social organizations and local charities, he said.
On April 7, Mehngai-Mukt Bharat Party will organize dharnas and marches in all state headquarters with the help of social and religious organizations, NGOs and people, Mr Surjewala said.