Congress leaders have been reacting to the common man’’s worry over continuously rising prices of petrol and diesel. Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal said that the increase in fuel prices has put pressure on the financial condition of all sections of society and inflation is making life increasingly unaffordable.
He alleged that after rising tensions in West Asia and following the elections, the prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel have been increased, placing an additional burden of inflation on the public. Even when crude oil prices in the international market were continuously low, the central government did not provide any relief to the public and continued heavy taxation. He said that for the past 12 years, this government has been troubling ordinary people.
Dhaliwal said that to provide relief to people struggling with inflation, unemployment, and tax burdens, the Punjab government should reduce VAT on the increased petrol and diesel prices. He added that several states have done so earlier. He further stated that between 2014 and 2025, the Central government imposed an average excise duty of Rs 19.70 per litre on petrol and Rs 15.50 per litre on diesel, continuously burdening the public. During this period, excise duty was revised 21 times, including 12 increases.
Dhaliwal said that the increase in petrol and diesel prices not only raises transportation costs but also increases the prices of food items, vegetables, ration, medicines and other essential goods. He demanded from the Punjab government that it should immediately reduce VAT on petrol and diesel to provide relief to the public. He said that several states have previously reduced VAT to provide relief and Punjab should also take similar steps.
Senior Congress leader and advisory committee member of Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Jasleen Sethi alleged that the BJP government at the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have made petroleum products the biggest source of revenue.
She said, “Despite the fact that the prices of crude oil in the international market remained low for a long time, the Central government did not reduce the rate of oil. Now, as soon as the elections of states like Bengal and Assam are over, the Central government has put a new burden of inflation on the people by increasing the rates of petrol and diesel.”
Dr Sethi said that the tax that is being looted from the countrymen through petrol-diesel will not be tolerated anymore. “Already the senior leader of Congress party Rahul Gandhi has been claiming that the Modi government is not increasing the rates of petrol-diesel only because of the elections, now he has made his point true. This is just the beginning, in the coming days, oil prices may increase by Rs 20”, she added.
Mahila Congress National Coordinator Dr Sethi said that farmers, labourers, traders and transporters will have to bear the brunt of this. She said that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab should reduce the VAT on petrol and diesel at its level to give relief to the people.
