Chandigarh, November 7, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal today blasted the Punjab government saying that decision to reduce the diesel prices only nominally by Rs five per liter clearly showed its “anti farmer, anti-industrialist and anti- transport” prejudice. The party also came down heavily on the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for what it called his “insensitivity to the poor and middle class consumers a vast majority of whom use diesel for transport vehicles
“ Congrss govt was forced to announce this cut after seeing the massive response to SAD protest yesterday. But despite the eye wash in the name of a reduction in fuel prices, petrol and diesel still remain the costliest in Punjab compared with Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu , the thee adjoining states of Punjab.
Chief Minister Charanjt Singh Channi is patting his back on the basis of a lie that both diesel and petrol prices in Punjab are the lowest in the country,” said the senior SAD leader Sardar Bikram Singh Majithia here this evening. He said that even after the government’s so called “boananza”, , diesel would still cost Rs 84.80 in Punjab as compared with Rs 78.75 in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 80.89 in Chandigarh and Rs 80.31 in Jammu respectively.
Similarly, said Mr Majithia, petrol would still remain the costliest in Punjab at Rs 101. 16 while it sells at Rs 93.79 in Himachal, Rs 94.21 in Chandigarh and Rs 95.29 in Jammu respectively
Mr Majithia said that the Congress Government put a burden of roughly Rs 40,000 crore by way of VAT on fuel prices alone in the past four and half years, but even when they finally bowed to SAD pressure to reduce prices, they have been stingy and have still kept at highest among the three main neighbouring states. He said that in the past nearly five years , Punjab was the only state not to reduce fuel prices to match reduction by center , the last time being in 2018
In a statement , Mr Majithia said that the marginal reduction in fuel prices announced under enormous pressure from the opposition still reveals the government’s bias against farmers, industrialists and transport who put together account for over 90% of the consumption of diesel. These sectors are dependent almost wholly on diesel.
Mr Majithia said that the Congress government’s refusal to bring petrol and diesel prices in Punjab at least at par with its major adjoining states would mean the inflation would remain the highest in the state as prices of essential commodities dependent heavily on fuel prices for the transport sector.
“On th one hand, Rahul Gandhi goes shouting from roof tops against inflation while on the other, his own party’s government is ensuring that inflation remains at its peak with petrol and diesel prces remaining among the highest in the region.
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