NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the government over the rise in prices of certain essential commodities, alleging that the Modi government has completely "destroyed" the country's strategic and economic policies.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said while the common citizens are hoping for relief, the BJP leadership remains entirely focused on "looting the public and plundering the nation amidst this crisis".
In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "The Modi government has completely dismantled the country's strategic and economic policies - a direct consequence of which is now being borne by 1.4 billion Indians."
Starting today, the prices of several essential daily commodities are set to rise, he said in a post in Hindi on X.
"Commercial LPG Cylinder prices skyrocket, while supplies hit rock bottom. From the cost of tea at roadside eateries to a severe adverse impact on the Mid-Day Meal scheme. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) gets costlier."
Air travel - once made accessible to the common man - has now become an elusive dream; The government has even lifted the price cap.
"Over 900 essential medicines become more expensive; healthcare costs have surged further; prices of coronary stents have gone up; you will have to pay higher Toll Taxes; 'highway robbery' is in full swing; speed post charges have also seen a 34% hike: severe impact on plastic goods, steel, and ceramics; PVC pipes for farmers have become more expensive; Bitumen prices have risen by up to 50%; the construction sector faces immense pressure," Kharge said.
At a time when the common citizens, farmers, labourers, and MSME industries remain in the hope of relief, the BJP leadership - while grossly ignoring their plight, remains entirely focused on looting the public and plundering the nation amidst this crisis, Kharge said.
He shared a video montage on the hike captioned 'BJP loot diwas'.
Prices of commercial LPG were hiked by Rs 195. 50 on Wednesday, on back of a surge in global oil prices linked to the widening West Asia conflict.
A 19-kg commercial LPG now costs Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi, according to state-owned oil companies.
Rates were last increased by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1.
Domestic cooking gas LPG rates, which were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7, remain unchanged. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi.
Price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, was more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre on Wednesday, mirroring the surge in global oil prices last month, but for domestic airlines, the increase would only be 8.5 per cent.
Domestic airlines will pay half of what other carriers such as non-scheduled, adhoc and charter would pay.
For them the prices have gone up by Rs 110,703.08 per kl, or 114.5 per cent, to Rs 207,341.22 per kl.
Jet fuel prices were deregulated more than two decades back, and since then, the rates are aligned with benchmark international prices, as per a written understanding with the airlines.
But since the Middle East war induced surge in global energy prices warranted a steepest increase ever to be made in the ATF prices, the government and state-owned oil companies decided to adopt a calibrated approach, industry sources said.
Global oil prices have shot up by almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to remain frozen after a Rs 2 per-litre reduction in March last year; petrol currently costs Rs 94.72 per litre in Delhi and diesel Rs 87.62.