KTR demands apology from Modi on petro prices

[Anta Assamey]

Telangana Rashtra Samithi working president and state IT minister K T Rama Rao on Wednesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government for failing to curb the rise in petrol and diesel prices, which have been steeply increasing in the last few days.

In an open letter, KTR reminded that before coming to power, Modi had used the petrol prices hike issue as a political weapon.

“When he was in opposition, Narendra Modi shed crocodile tears over the sufferings of the poor and the plight of common people. He must remember his words and deeds at that time,” he said.

The minister said the Prime Minister should recognize that public life is being disrupted by the rise in petrol prices in the current context of job losses, declining revenues, and rising unemployment due to the corona crisis. The PM should give an explanation on the performance of his incompetent government and its failures.

“The PM and his government should apologize for failing to curb the rise in petro prices. On behalf of the people of the country, I urge the government to take immediate steps to reduce petro rates to benefit the people,” he said.

KTR alleged that on the one hand, the BJP government at the Centre is constantly increasing the fuel prices. On the other hand, it is trying to push the blame on state governments.

“This is blatant lying and totally unacceptable,” he said.

He said all the reasons cited by the Modi government for not controlling prices are pure lies. The BJP leaders are simply narrating stories, such as the problems in the international crude oil supply, the rise in crude oil prices, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which is not correct, he said.

When the BJP government took office in 2014, the international price of crude oil was about $ 105. After that, due to various reasons, crude oil prices came down to below $ 40 a barrel at one stage. However, the BJP government has continued to raise petrol prices in the country, he pointed out.

The increase in excise duty during the Corona crisis is proof of the cruelty and indifference of the Narendra Modi government at the Center against the poor and middle class. The price of a barrel of crude oil fell to less than $ 20 a barrel during the corona crisis. 

“That should have led to a massive reduction in petro rates in our country as well. But the ruthless Modi government, which has forced migrant workers to walk thousands of miles barefoot in the Corona crisis, has raised excise duty by Rs 20 without taking advantage of the reduced prices,” he pointed out.

In 2014, the price of petrol per liter was Rs 70.51, and the price of diesel per liter was Rs 53.78. The Modi government gradually increased the prices to Rs 118.19 and Rs 104.62 respectively.

“Internationally, the price of crude oil is currently $ 106. It is crucial to note that the price of crude oil in 2014 is still the same. But the price of a litre of petrol in our country is not the same as in 2014. How did this happen, he asked.