Rahul Gandhi leads fuel hike protest by Congress MPs in Delhi

Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lead the protest against fuel hike prices in Delhi. Gandhi, a vehement critic of the BJP-led government, has stepped up his offensive against the ruling party in the last few days amid a surge in fuel prices.

Speaking to ANI, Rahul Gandhi said, “In the last 10 days, petrol and diesel prices have increased 9 times. We demand that the rising prices should be brought under control. Congress party is holding nationwide protests on this issue today.”

Also read: Nearly 30% of jail staff posts vacant, Centre tells parliament

On Thursday, India saw another surge in fuel prices – the ninth revision in 10 days – as per litre cost was raised by another 80 paise. Delhi now sells petrol at Rs 101.81 per litre while diesel is being sold at Rs 93.01 litre. In Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, one litre of petrol now costs Rs 116.72 while diesel costs Rs 100.94 per litre.

Also read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan shares details from ‘foreign conspiracy letter’ with cabinet members

The opposition has been attacking the government even as several union ministers have said the spike in prices is linked to the Ukraine war, which began February 24.

The prices surged after a break of four months and critics have linked it to the end of assembly elections in five states after the BJP claimed victory in four states.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi slams PM Narendra Modi over rise in fuel prices

On Wednesday, Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet, and said PM Modi has a “daily to-do list”.

“Prime Minister’s daily to-do list – how much to increase in petrol, diesel and gas rates, how to stop discussion on rising expenses, how to show hollow dreams of employment to the youth, which public sector company to sell and how to make farmers more helpless,” he wrote in Hindi. He used the hashtag #RozSubahkiBaat, in a swipe over PM Modi’s radio address – ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

Also read: Nearly 3,400 communal riots took place from 2016-2020: Centre to Parliament

Apart from Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav is another opposition leader who has slammed the government.

Earlier this month, union minister Hardeep Singh Puri in parliament, amid the Ukraine war, said the fuel prices will ultimately be determined by the oil companies but the government is committed to ‘provide relief to consumers at point of consumption.’