New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Congress on Wednesday slammed Narendra Modi government for the hike in petrol and diesel price, saying that it was "anti-farmer, anti-poor and anti-common Indian citizen".
"The Congress party is forced to wonder as to how much will this government take to prove that it is anti-farmer, anti-poor and anti-common Indian citizen. It beats any logic, whatsoever to hit the farmer with a diesel price hike, even as he is facing almost a calamity in the shape of unseasonal rains and hailstorm and inclement weather that has flatten crop across north India.," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
"In addition, the hike today (Wednesday) comes at a time when the farmers across the country will be indulging in cutting and threshing of the Rabi crop, which would entail heavier diesel consumption by them," he added.
State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) on Wednesday announced a big hike in transport fuel rates, increasing petrol by Rs.3.07 a litre and diesel by Rs.1.90 -- both at Delhi, with corresponding increase in other states.
The hikes will be effective midnight on Wednesday, the company said adding that the hardening of global crude oil rates warranted such an increase.
Surjewala further said: "It is for the third time in a row that the Modi government has hiked the prices of diesel by Rs 1.90 per litre, even as it continues to play the inexplicable game of see saw by increasing and decreasing petrol prices."
"During the past month, diesel prices have been raised by Rs 3.77 a litre and since February last year, the government has increased the diesel prices eight times, while the decreases have been effected only on three occasions," he added.
