'Blatant Extortionism': India's Opposition Parties Slam BJP Gov't Over High Fuel Prices

Fuel prices in India have reached a record high. In most parts of the country, the petrol rates have already gone beyond INR 100 ($1.33) per litre, diesel prices too have crossed that level in over a dozen states and union territories.

India's two key opposition parties, Congress and Samajwadi Party, have expressed anguish over an increase in fuel prices in the country, terming it "blatant extortionism" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday shared a news clip to show that fuel prices are at an all-time high because of the taxes imposed by the federal government.

On Twitter, Singhvi stated that this "unprecedented robbery" should be discontinued.

This blatant extortionism by the #BJP should immediately stop!!

After fifth consecutive hike, now common man's fuel, #Diesel, has touched 100 mark. This unprecedented robbery should be discontinued if we want to project ourselves as a 'Welfare State' by any means.#PetrolPrice pic.twitter.com/ZInAXjdheH

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) October 18, 2021

Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former state chief of Uttar Pradesh, tweeted in Hindi to say: "People are paying almost INR 1,000 ($13.28) for a cooking gas cylinder. The 2022 Uttar Pradesh state assembly polls will not be a cakewalk for the BJP".

हज़ार का सिलेंडर आज जनता को महँगा पड़ रहा है… बाइस के चुनाव में भाजपा को महँगा पड़ेगा। #भाजपा_ख़त्म pic.twitter.com/wjvUK0kank

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) October 18, 2021

The state of Uttar Pradesh is set to witness legislative assembly polls next year, where the governing BJP will be facing the Samajwadi Party (SP) as its main opponent.

Yadav's party in a tweet in Hindi said: "SP lawmakers are protesting outside the state assembly against the skyrocketing inflation, atrocities of the BJP government, betrayal with farmers, and unemployment".

आसमान छूती महंगाई, किसानों के साथ भाजपा सरकार के धोखे, ऐतिहासिक बेरोज़गारी से परेशान जनता की आवाज़ बुलंद करने के लिए विधान भवन के बाहर सपा विधायकों का धरना प्रदर्शन।

सत्ता के हर अन्याय और अत्याचार का उत्तर मांगे प्रदेश! pic.twitter.com/3E4uP7hzVp

— Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) October 18, 2021

Congress also slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government by comparing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) with petrol and diesel.

The party stated through in a Hindi tweet that: "The claim made by Shri Narendra Modi to create a 'New India' is now coming to the fore. The common people have to pay the price for the much hyped 'New India'. ATF in Delhi is INR 79,020.16 ($1,049) per kilolitre i.e. INR 79 per litre ($1.05)".

'न्यू इंडिया' बनाने का जो दावा श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी ने किया था, अब उसकी सच्चाई सामने आने लगी है। बहुप्रचारित 'न्यू इंडिया' बनाने की कीमत आम लोगों को ही चुकानी पड़ रही है। दिल्ली में ATF ₹79,020.16 प्रति किलोलीटर यानी ₹79 प्रति लीटर है। pic.twitter.com/q20qzqVBie

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 18, 2021

In another tweet, the Congress Party said that the price of ATF is proof of the loot being carried out by the Modi government. The party said it is taking a toll on people in the country and should be stopped.

मोदी सरकार की लूट का जीता जागता सबूत पेट्रोल का विमान के ईंधन से महंगा होना है।

मोदी सरकार का जनलूट कार्यक्रम देश की जनता पर भारी पड़ रहा है, गाढ़ी कमाई को लूट रहा है।

अब मोदी सरकार की लूट पर लगाम लगनी चाहिए। pic.twitter.com/fzrJyeUbs6

— Congress (@INCIndia) October 18, 2021

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to Twitter, saying in Hindi: "The BJP government had once promised that people wearing 'hawai chappals' (slippers) would soon travel in 'hawai jahaj' (aeroplanes). However, fuel prices have increased so much under the Modi government that now it has become difficult for the middle class to afford to travel by road".

वादा किया था कि हवाई चप्पल वाले हवाई जहाज से सफर करेंगे।

लेकिन भाजपा सरकार ने पेट्रोल-डीजल के दाम इतने बढ़ा दिए कि अब हवाई चप्पल वालों और मध्यम वर्ग का सड़क पर सफर करना भी मुश्किल हो गया है।#भाजपा_लाई_महंगे_दिन pic.twitter.com/f4rVkxxOOW

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 18, 2021

Fuel prices remained unchanged on Monday after rates hiked for a fourth consecutive day.

In India, fuel prices change every day because of a dynamic pricing system that reflects fluctuations in the global oil market. Earlier, petrol prices were revised every fortnight.