Fuel price hike will further increase inflation, Centre must roll it back: Mumbai Cong chief

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad has demanded the BJP-led Union government to roll back the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices to provide relief to citizens affected by rising inflation.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Monday said the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices was ''unjustified'' and demanded that the BJP-led Union government immediately roll it back to provide relief to common citizens affected by rising inflation.

In a statement issued here, Gaikwad said petrol and diesel prices have increased by Rs 8 per litre over the last 11 days, which would further burden the public already struggling with inflation.

''The increase in fuel prices will push common people deeper into the inflation crisis. The Central government should immediately withdraw this unjustified hike,'' she said.

Gaikwad alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri had assured citizens during the assembly elections in five states that there was adequate fuel stock in the country.

''However, immediately after the elections, petrol and diesel prices were increased. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had warned that fuel prices would rise after the elections, and once again his statement has proved correct,'' Gaikwad said.

The Congress MP further claimed prices of LPG cylinders also saw a sharp rise last month, while that of commercial cylinder prices had nearly doubled, adversely affecting hotels and small food businesses and leading to higher food prices.

She said the latest fuel price hike would further increase inflation.

Referring to the previous UPA government, Gaikwad said former prime minister Manmohan Singh had provided subsidies to protect citizens from inflation.

The Narendra Modi government was failing to provide relief to people, she alleged.

PM Modi is not paying attention to issues such as inflation and unemployment, she further claimed.

Gaikwad also targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over fuel availability in the state.

She said although Fadnavis has stated there is sufficient petrol stock, reports have emerged of petrol pumps remaining shut in some parts of the state.

''Some media reports on Sunday stated that petrol pumps in Mumbai's Dadar and Sion areas were also shut. Even after fuel shortage concerns have reached the state capital, the chief minister does not appear alert,'' she alleged.

Instead of making ''misleading statements'', the chief minister should ensure there is no fuel shortage and that people are protected from rising inflation, she added.