New Delhi: Today 130 crore Indians are battling the Corona pandemic. The poor, shopkeepers, farmers, small and medium businesses and those who have lost their jobs are struggling to survive the economic ruin unleashed by the anti-people policies of Modi government. But instead of reducing their burden, the BJP Government is fleecing the people by not just raising fuel rates on daily basis but also refusing to share benefits of lower crude with people.
The repeated and unjust increase in the prices as also the Central Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel over the last three months of the Lockdown has inflicted insurmountable pain and suffering on the people of India.
Here are some hard facts about Petrol and Diesel hike: –
1. In May, 2014 (when BJP assumed power), Excise Duty on Petrol was Rs.9.20 per litre and on Diesel was Rs.3.46 per litre. In the last six years, Union BJP Government has increased the Excise Duty on Petrol by an Additional 23.78 per litre and on Diesel by an Additional Rs.28.37 per litre. This is a shocking 820% hike in Excise Duty on Diesel and 258% increase in Excise Duty on Petrol.
2. Modi Government has earned Rs.18,00,000 crore in last six years by increase in Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel alone.
3. Since the Lockdown three months ago, the extent of extortion and profiteering by repeated increases in prices and Excise Duty on Petrol and Diesel has surpassed all forms of exploitation.
On 5th March 2020, excise duty on Petrol and Diesel was increased by Rs.3 per litre. On 5th of May 2020, Modi Government increased the Excise Duty on Diesel by Rs.13 per litre and on Petrol by Rs.10 per litre. Since 7th June 2020 till 29th June 2020, the heartless Modi Government has consecutively increased the prices of Petrol and Diesel 22 times in last 23 days leading to a further increase of Rs.11.14 per litre for Diesel and Rs.9.17 per litre for Petrol.
4. The biggest proof of cheating the people of India and bleeding their hard- earned money can be gauged from the fact that crude oil prices have actually gone down over last few months. On 29th June 2020 ie today, the crude oil price is US$ 41.70 or Rs.3,147.23 per barrel. One barrel has 159 litres. Hence, the per litre crude oil price as on 29th June 2020 would be Rs.19.80 per litre. As against this, the Price of Petrol-Diesel has crossed Rs.80 per litre establishing sheer profiteering and fleecing of people of India by the Modi Government.
5. The crude prices are at the August 2004 level of 40-42 USD/Barrel and yet consumers are paying a heavier bill. In August 2004, Petrol was Rs 36.81 per litre, Diesel 24.16 and LPG Rs 261.60 per cylinder in Delhi. The prices of Petrol, Diesel & LPG should have be reduced to the August 2004 level.
6. When Congress-UPA government was in power, price of crude oil was US$ 108 per barrel, but Petrol and Diesel was at Rs 71.41 and Rs 55.49 per litre, which have increased to Rs 80.43 and Rs 80.53 in Delhi, today. If we consider the international price of crude oil, which has fallen to US$ 41.70 per barrel as on 29th June, 2020 i.e. a decline of 60%. Despite this, BJP Government has raised the prices of Petrol-Diesel to sky high.
The Congress Party demands –
1. The benefit of reduced international crude oil prices should be passed on to the people and the rates of Petrol-Diesel-LPG gas be reduced.
2. Petrol and Diesel should be brought under the GST.
3. We urge upon the Govt to immediate roll back the Petrol-Diesel prices and Excise Duty hike post 5th March, 2020 and pass on this benefit to the people of India in these difficult times.
