Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday lashed out at the Centre over the latest hike in retail fuel prices, saying the common man was being crushed under the burden of inflation.
“Bahut hoyi mahangai ki maar, ab to bas karo Modi Saab,” Cheema said while reacting to the increase in petrol and diesel prices announced on Monday morning.
Targeting the BJP-led government at the Centre, Cheema alleged that the ruling party was anti-farmer, anti-trader and against small businessmen.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being indifferent to the hardships faced by people due to the continuous rise in fuel prices.
Petrol and diesel prices have been increased by Rs 2.61 to Rs 2.71 per litre, marking the fourth hike in the past two weeks. Oil marketing companies have been passing on the burden of rising global crude oil prices to consumers.
“In just 10 days, between May 15 and May 25, petrol prices have risen by Rs 8.06 per litre and diesel by Rs 8 per litre. In the past one month, LPG prices have increased by 48-75 per cent, while Aviation Turbine Fuel prices have gone up by 25 per cent. This directly impacts not only the economy of the common man but also the country as a whole,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Cheema said it was time Modi stopped “distributing toffees”, referring to the Melody toffee gifted by the PM to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and instead focused on domestic issues and reviving the country’s “sagging economy".
