AAP takes on BJP over fuel price hike

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

Alleging a “scam” behind hiked petrol and diesel prices in the country, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre saying it would launch an agitation against the increased oil prices.

The Kejriwal-led party accused the government claiming it is not known who is benefitting from the 56 per cent profit earned by the move against which party MLAs and workers will gather for an emergency meeting in the national Capital.

Addressing reporters, AAP senior leader and state in charge Gopal Rai said, “Before coming to power the BJP had promised the people of lowering the prices of commodities, but the ground reality is far different with prices of petrol and diesel skyrocketing despite a slump in prices of crude oil in the international market at a time when in India petrol is being sold at about 56 per cent profit.”

Rai said in Delhi the price of petrol is Rs 70 while in Mumbai it is being sold at Rs 80 while wondering if the gains coming from increased oil prices is being pocketed by top political brass of the BJP government.

The Cabinet minister also questioned the intentions of the Central government in holding talking with state governments regarding bringing down the tax.  

 The AAP also demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into a raid by impostors posing as IT sleuths on September 17 in Malviya Nagar. On the matter, AAP MLA Somnath Bharti suspecting a bigger racket behind the episode said the matter should be investigated by the CBI under strict monitoring by a court in a time-bound manner so that real beneficiaries of such rackets can be found out.

Bahrati also attacked the police, saying that it has failed to secure the concerns of my constituency.

“Strange that with such failures on their face, the LG though allowed formation of MP chaired district-level committees because they all belong to the BJP but disallowed formation of MLA chaired thana-level committees because 66 out of 70 belong to the AAP. Through thana-level committees MLA was allowed to have say in law and order concerns of the area which the AAP demands to be restored without any further delay,” he said.