Congress Slams Govt Over Price Rise, Calls It ‘BJP Loot Diwas’

The Modi administration has allegedly "destroyed" the nation's strategic and economic policies, according to the Congress, which launched an attack on the government on Wednesday over the increase in the cost of certain commodities.

Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress, stated that the BJP leadership is solely concerned with "looting the public and plundering the nation amidst this crisis" while the general populace is yearning for assistance.

In a Hindi post on X, Kharge stated, "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'.

Commercial LPG rates increased by Rs 195.50 on Wednesday due to a spike in global oil prices caused by the escalating crisis in West Asia.

State-owned oil companies claim that a 19-kg commercial LPG currently costs Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi. On March 1, rates were recently raised by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder.

The tariffs for domestic cooking gas LPG have not changed since they were last raised on 7 March by Rs 60 every 14.2-kg cylinder. In Delhi, a 14.2-kg cylinder costs Rs 913.

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.

However, according to industry sources, the government and state-owned oil companies chose to take a calibrated approach because the jump in global energy prices because by the Middle East war justified the biggest hike in ATF prices ever.

Following the disruption in energy supply networks caused by the conflict in West Asia, the price of oil has increased by about 50% worldwide.

Following a drop of Rs 2 per litre in March of last year, the prices of petrol and diesel are still stuck at Rs 94.72 and Rs 87.62 per litre, respectively, in Delhi.