Chandigarh: Leader of the opposition in Haryana assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP government over the latest increase in LPG prices, accusing it of burdening citizens with repeated hikes in fuel and cooking gas rates.
Hooda, in a statement, alleged that the BJP was "continuously robbing the public" by raising prices of essential petroleum products despite a decline in international crude oil prices. He said the recent Rs 29 increase in domestic LPG cylinder prices came soon after a Rs 42 hike in commercial cylinder rates, adding that domestic cylinder prices increased by Rs 89 in the last three months alone.
The former chief minister claimed that commercial LPG cylinder prices had increased by more than Rs 1,500 over the years. He alleged that consumers were also facing excessive charges on petrol, diesel, CNG and smaller gas cylinders. According to Hooda, the government was collecting significantly higher taxes on fuel than during the Congress regime, leading to higher retail prices despite lower global crude oil rates.
He further alleged that VAT on fuel in Haryana, which stood at 9% during the Congress government, was increased to 18% under the BJP dispensation. Rising fuel costs, he said, were pushing up prices of essential commodities and agricultural inputs, adding to inflationary pressures on households. Citing inflation concerns, Hooda said a domestic LPG cylinder that cost around Rs 400 during the Congress tenure had now touched nearly Rs 1,000. He also claimed that petrol and diesel prices, which were considerably lower during the Congress government, crossed the Rs 100-per-litre mark.
Hooda said that soaring inflation was forcing families to cut daily expenses and compromise on the quality and nutritional value of their food. The opposition leader reiterated his demand for the state government to roll back the recent price hikes and provide relief to the common man.
