New Delhi, April 1 The Congress launched a scathing attack on the government on Wednesday over the rising prices of certain essential commodities, alleging that the Modi government has "completely destroyed" the country's strategic and economic policies.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said while ordinary citizens are hoping for relief, the BJP leadership remains entirely focused on "plundering the public and plundering the nation amidst this crisis."
In a post on X in Hindi, Kharge said, "The Modi government has completely dismantled the country's strategic and economic policies – a direct consequence of which is now being borne by 1.4 billion Indians."
He said that starting today, the prices of several essential daily commodities are set to rise.
"The prices of commercial LPG cylinders are skyrocketing, while supplies are at rock bottom. From the cost of tea at roadside eateries to a severe adverse impact on the Mid-Day Meal scheme, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) getting more expensive – air travel, once accessible to ordinary people, has now become a distant dream. The government has even lifted the price cap."
"Over 900 essential medicines are becoming more expensive; healthcare costs have surged further; the prices of coronary stents have gone up; you will have to pay higher tolls; 'highway robbery' is in full swing; and the charges for speed post have also increased by 34%: severe impact on plastic goods, steel, and ceramics; PVC pipes for farmers have become more expensive; and bitumen prices have risen by up to 50%: the construction sector is facing immense pressure," Kharge said.
"At a time when ordinary citizens, farmers, labourers, and MSME industries remain in hope of relief, the BJP leadership – while grossly ignoring their plight – remains entirely focused on plundering the public and plundering the nation amidst this crisis," Kharge said.
He shared a video montage on the hike captioned 'BJP loot diwas'.
The prices of commercial LPG were hiked by Rs 195.50 on Wednesday, due to a surge in global oil prices linked to the widening West Asia conflict.
A 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi, according to state-owned oil companies. Rates were last increased by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1.
Domestic cooking gas LPG rates, which were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7, remain unchanged. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi.
The price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, was more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, mirroring the surge in global oil prices last month, but for domestic airlines, the increase would only be 8.5 per cent.
Domestic airlines will pay half of what other carriers such as non-scheduled, adhoc and charter would pay. For them, the prices have gone up by Rs 110,703.08 per kl, or 114.5 per cent, to Rs 207,341.22 per kl.
Jet fuel prices were deregulated more than two decades back, and since then, the rates are aligned with benchmark international prices, as per a written understanding with the airlines.
However, since the Middle East war induced surge in global energy prices warranted a steepest increase ever to be made in the ATF prices, the government and state-owned oil companies decided to adopt a calibrated approach, industry sources said.
Global oil prices have shot up by almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.