Not GDP but only prices of gas, diesel and petrol is showing a surge: Prof Gourav Vallabh

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 14  

Lashing out at the Central government, Congress spokesperson Prof Gourav Vallabh said that when 4.11 lakh people had died due to Covid in the country, 97 per cent of population had suffered a dip in income in 2020 and middle class has reduced, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is running at 6.26 per cent.

Holding a press conference on Wednesday, he said that the people had voted Modi government for growth in GDP but in actual only prices of gas, diesel and petrol have been rising.

Elaborating further, he said since January 1 till July 12, fuel prices have been increased 66 times. He added that petrol has crossed Rs 100 per litre in all the four metros along with more than 250 cities while diesel is costing over Rs 89 per litre in almost all the cities.

He pointed out that in the last seven years, the excise duty on petrol has been increased by 247 per cent, as it was raised from Rs 9.48 per litre to Rs 32.90 per litre.

Also, the excise duty on diesel was raised by 794 per cent since 2014, as it was hiked from Rs 3.56 per litre to Rs 31.80 per litre.

He added that the price of LPG has doubled in the last seven years of the BJP government.

“The high fuel prices have impacted both the middle class and farmers,” he said.

He said that food inflation is at 5.58 per cent, clothing inflation is at 6.21 per cent and pulses inflation is at 10.01 per cent. Also, transport inflation is at 11.56 per cent, fuel inflation has reached 12.68 per cent and oil and fats inflation is 34.78 per cent.

“The Congress demands that the Central government should immediately reduce the prices of petrol and diesel. Also, the import duties be reviewed so that prices of essential imported goods are cheaper,” he said.

He said that the party would raise the issue of inflation in Parliament in the Monsoon Session.

He said that the Central government couldn’t hide behind Covid pandemic or shift burden on state governments. Their focus is on controlling TV debates from 5 pm to 9 pm, he added.