Mumbai: As the country reels under the impact of high fuel prices, Sanjay Nirupam carried out a massive protest in the suburbs of Mumbai. The protest which was joined by hundreds of party workers, as well as local Mumbaikars started from the Kalina area of Mumbai and ended outside the Collector’s Office. As part of the protest, there were huge banners which also showed the tweets of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sushma Swaraj and Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan and deleted tweet of Akshay Kumar which spoke about and criticized high fuel prices in the past during Congress rule. Now the Congress is openly questioning them, just like many on social media, regarding their silence over current fuel prices which have hit an all-time high.
As he led the protest Sanjay Nirupam said, “This clearly shows that the ‘suit-boot ki sarkaar’ is only interested in looting the people of India. They have no interest in making the lives of the common people any easier. This is not just affecting the commuters' lives but also every household with all vegetable prices having gone up by 25%. As recently as yesterday, the prices of petrol were almost Rs. 85/ litre and that of diesel were Rs. 72.76 in Mumbai. This amounts to nothing but murdering the common people- one day at a time”.
In last nine days, petrol price has risen by Rs 2.24/ litre and diesel by Rs 2.15/ litre. Both the Centre and States, where VAT makes up for 20-35 per cent of the retail cost have gained from the rising oil prices. On the other hand, weaker rupee is leading to an increase in the fuel prices too. Also between November 2014 and January 2016 when crude prices were declining, the Centre had raised excise duty by Rs 11.77/ litre on petrol and Rs 13.47/ litre on diesel. This was a result of an increase in the excise duty on fuel by nine times in the same period.
“I have been demanding that the Govt should bring petrol prices under GST. It is very clear that Rs. 25/ litre of fuel is going to the Govt ideally in terms of the central and state taxes, Cess and commissions which can easily be reduced. So why can’t the Govt do it? What I want to make everybody understand is that it is totally in the hands of the Govt to reduce the petrol prices. It does not depend on international crude oil prices that are at an all-time low”, added Sanjay Nirupam.
Sanjay Nirupam promised that he will continue this fight till the Govt actually takes action in favour of the common man.
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