New Delhi, May 25 (H.S.): The Indian National Congress on Monday attacked the Central Government over rising petrol and diesel prices and the profits of oil companies, alleging that the government has failed to provide relief to the public during a time of economic distress.

Party spokesperson Ragini Nayak said that the Central Government has collected Rs 43 lakh crore from citizens through excise duty but has not extended relief to people during financial hardship. She further claimed that the combined net profit of the country’s three major oil companies increased by 41 per cent in the fourth quarter.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Nayak said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently stated at election rallies that there was no oil crisis in the country and that inflation would not rise. She added that Home Minister Amit Shah and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had also claimed that the country’s oil reserves were sufficient and there was no crisis situation.

She questioned that if the situation was normal, then why petrol and diesel prices in India were continuously rising despite a decline in crude oil prices in the international market. She said that in the last 11 days alone, petrol prices had increased by Rs 8 per litre and diesel by Rs 7.80 per litre.

The Congress spokesperson alleged that the government collected Rs 43 lakh crore through excise duty but failed to provide relief to citizens during economic hardship. She further stated that during the same global crisis period cited by the government, the combined profit of these companies stood at Rs 19,470 crore.

She also claimed that during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, even when crude oil prices in the international market reached USD 140 per barrel, petrol was priced at Rs 71 per litre and diesel at Rs 50 per litre, and excise duty was not increased at that time. She alleged that under the current government, excise duty has reached Rs 33 per litre.

Ragini Nayak also raised questions on foreign policy, energy supply, and the economy. She said that 13 ships are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that uncertainty over oil supply continues in the country. She asked what steps the government is taking to address these conditions.

Notably, over the past month, prices of petrol, diesel, CNG, and LPG have been increased four times. On May 25, petrol in Delhi reached Rs 102.12 per litre and diesel Rs 95.20 per litre. Earlier, on May 23, petrol was increased by 87 paise and diesel by 91 paise per litre. On May 18, petrol and diesel prices were raised by around 90 paise per litre, while CNG became costlier by Rs 1 per kg. On May 15, petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre each, and CNG by Rs 2 per kg. Earlier, on May 1, the price of commercial LPG cylinders was increased by Rs 993, taking the price in Delhi to Rs 3,071.50.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar