Mumbai, Jun 6 (Agency) Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Sunday informed that a statewide agitation will be held tomorrow against “unjust increase” in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices. He said, “The Modi government at the Center has hiked the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG. Petrol has crossed the Rs 100 per liter mark and diesel has gone up to Rs 92 per liter. If the price hike continues like this, it will not take long for diesel to reach Rs 100 per liter.”
“Cooking gas has also gone up to Rs 900. Inflation has made life difficult for people. The Corona crisis is already plaguing the population, which is suffering from inflation,” he added. He further alleged, “The Modi government has made a profit of crores of rupees in the form of taxes from petrol and diesel, but the general public has fallen into the abyss of inflation. Excise duty on petrol, which was Rs 9.48 under the UPA government, has gone up by Rs 32.90, or 258 per cent, while on diesel, it was Rs 3.56, which is Rs 31.80 today, an increase of 820 per cent. In the last 7 years, the Modi government has looted Rs 20 to 25 lakh crore from this excise duty.”
He continued, “Also, during the fourteen years from 2001 to 2014, a central road fund cess of Rs 1 per liter was being levied on petrol and diesel. In 2018, it was priced at Rs 18 per liter. Also, an agricultural cess of Rs 2.50 per liter is levied on petrol and Rs 4 per liter on diesel.” “Hence, an agitation against the Modi government will be held tomorrow across the state; at three petrol pumps in each assembly constituency.