Punjab: AAP, Cong, SAD slam Centre over fresh fuel price hike

Political parties in Punjab on Monday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre over the fresh hike in fuel prices, calling it a crippling blow to ordinary citizens already grappling with rising prices of essential commodities.

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 2.61 and 2.71 per litre respectively, on Monday, marking the fourth hike in less than two weeks as state-owned fuel retailers continued passing on rising international oil prices to consumers.

With the latest revision, cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices have nearly touched Rs 7.5 per litre since fuel price revisions resumed on May 15 after a prolonged freeze, raising concerns over inflationary pressures and higher transportation costs across the economy.

Reacting to the hike, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Centre had given another ''shock'' to common people.

''The BJP government seems to have zero concern for struggling households. While many countries are providing relief and shielding citizens from global fuel shocks, people in India are being left to fend for themselves. Is this the 'Amrit Kaal' promised to the people?'' Cheema asked.

''Rupee inching towards 100, petrol prices crossing Rs 100, gold duty hiked to 15 per cent -- and to top it all, Government of India has committed to importing US goods that could make Indian agriculture uncompetitive and severely hit farmers' incomes,'' Cheema said.

Rising prices, weakening currency, policy uncertainty, and pressure on farmers are pushing the economy into deep distress, he alleged. ''The economy is in tatters.''.

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa too condemned fuel price hike.

''Fuel prices hiked again, the rupee keeps weakening against the dollar, and the cost of living is becoming unbearable for ordinary Indians,'' he said.

In a post on X, Bajwa said that after petrol breached the Rs 100 per litre mark, the rupee may soon crash to Rs 100 per dollar while the Modi government continues to celebrate ''strong diplomacy'' and ''economic success''.

The BJP had assured that PM Modi's global image and friendships would strengthen India's economy, which has not happened, he said.

''The truth is that every economic shock is now being passed directly onto the common citizen,'' he said.

Shiromani Akai Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticised the hike, noting that it was the fourth increase in petrol and diesel prices in just 10 days.

''This is a crippling blow to the common man already battling skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. It will push the agriculture sector into recession, devastate the middle class, and inflict untold misery on the poor,'' Badal said in a post on X.

The SAD chief said the Centre must immediately slash GST and other taxes on fuel and essential items to provide relief from inflation.

Senior Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa criticised the Modi government, saying the country's middle class is currently under the ''greatest economic pressure''.

He said that the BJP government, which once claimed ''I will neither be corrupt, nor allow others to do corruption'' is itself carrying out ''the biggest robbery of the public's hard-earned money''.

''Cooking gas, food items, travel, electricity, education and every daily necessity are becoming more expensive. The common man is no longer dreaming about the future but is forced to calculate monthly expenses just to survive,'' Randhawa said.

Randhawa alleged that the BJP government is not serving the people but is instead running a ''shop of loot''.

The manner in which money is ''being extracted from the public through taxes and inflation reminds one of the East India Company era'', he said.

AAP's Pawan Tinu said when the BJP was in opposition, even a slight increase in petrol and diesel prices would lead to big protests, but now despite continuous price hikes, the BJP leaders are now silent.

He targeted BJP leaders Ravneet Singh Bittu, Ashwani Sharma, and Sunil Jakhar, saying earlier these leaders used to speak on every issue, but now that fuel prices are rising, they haven't uttered a single word on the issue.

Tinu said paddy sowing is going to begin next month farmers require diesel for it.

''The increase in diesel prices will significantly raise input cost, which will directly impact the income of farmers,'' Tinu said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)