Chandigarh, March 1, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
Slamming the Modi regime for deliberately letting the prices of essential commodities spiral, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunil Jakhar on Monday said BJP has shamelessly exposed itself in its utter failure to govern the country on each front.
Modi dispensation is conspiring with and sponsoring this atrocious public loot to benefit his corporate friends, Jakhar said mincing no words while hitting out at central government for crushing the poor under the burden of ever high prices of LPG, Diesel and Petrol.
Leading a massive protest march here from MLA Hostel to gherao the Raj Bhawan to raise the voice of poor suffering under this vicious assault from BJP’s insane financial policies, senior Congressman said a party which had stolen votes of poor in the name of development has completely forsaken them now. Poor who were already reeling under the Covid stress now can’t make their ends meet while PM’s close corporate friends become richer each second by millions, Jakhar further said.
Forcibly stopped by Chandigarh Police outside the MLA Hostel here from marching ahead to gherao Raj Bhawan along with party MPs, MLAs, and senior members, Jakhar addressed the massive gathering lambasting centre for decimating small and medium businesses resulting in millions of job and livelihood losses across various sectors of economy.
Underscoring the fact that PM Manmohan Singh never let the prices of oil rise even when the crude oil became costly in the international market, Jakhar pointed out that despite the low crude prices internationally Modi government has not even ever passed on the benefit of low price to the public. Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji ensured that buying petrol and diesel remains within the reach of poor people by subsidizing it for masses when prices rose internationally, Jakhar pointed out while drawing a parallel with Modi government’s shameless attitude to keep all profit without passing over the benefit of low crude prices and rather add monumental taxes on it too in form of central excise duty, Jakhar added.
Rise in prices of diesel and petrol has a deleterious cascading impact which has broken the back of those marginalised and poor households which are finding it difficult to make their ends meet, Jakhar said questioning the rationale behind this price hike.
Crude oil was selling at 147 dollars per barrel in 2008 when Congress was running the government at centre and while it is now available at around 60 dollars a barrel Modi Ji is selling petrol and diesel at exorbitant prices to people, Jakhar pointed out.
Price of Diesel and Petrol was Rs 35 and 45 respectively during Congres rule, while prices are now touching Rs 100 per litre already, Jakhar underlined exposing centre’s intention to fill its coffers at the expense and pain of common man. Likewise, the rate of LPG cylinder was 438 during Congress rule which is now selling at whopping Rs 860 already.
Prices of diesel and petrol should be around Rs 30 and Rs 35 per litre ideally as per the lower crude oil prices, Jakhar highlighted adding the rate of LPG cylinder should be Rs 300 only.
Modi government has collected Rs 29.46 lakh Crores from taxes on oil in last six years and has not given a penny to states not has it spent anything out of it for public welfare ever, Jakhar slammed centre for its oppressive mindset.
Training his guns on both SAD and AAP for their negative politics, Jakhar said both these outfits now only exist as BJP spokespersons. Questioning their deafening silence over rise in prices under BJP misrule, Jakhar said both Akalis and AAP have lost the trust of people of Punjab forever.
Reacting to recent statements of SAD and AAP leaders to arrest kingpins of drug business, Jakhar dared both parties to come out with names of anyone they know is indulging in such heinous acts. Congress will never allow anyone to play with lives of its youngsters, Jakhar said asking both AAP and SAD to not not hide any such knowledge which they claim to have about this illicit business.
Every Punjabi knows how Akalis gave political patronage to drug lords during their ten year misrule while Captain Amarinder Singh ji has acted strongly against anyone indulging in these nefarious acts. Jakhar also slammed AAP for its doublespeak on farm laws with their Delhi government notifying central agriculture legislations on one hand while Kejriwal does drama by tearing the same in assembly.
