'Abki Baar, Petrol Rs 100 Paar': Congress Slams Centre Over Petrol, Diesel Hike, Says Common Man Will Suffer

AAP, Congress and SAD on Friday attacked the Centre over the petrol and diesel price hike, saying it will deliver a crippling blow to the common man and adversely impact farmers.

Punjab Finance Minister and senior AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema said the move showed the ruling BJP's "anti-farmer and anti-people face".

"The central government increases petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre and then gives a marginal MSP increase of just Rs 72 per quintal on paddy. This is a direct assault on farmers' incomes. By giving a token MSP hike and raising diesel prices the very next day, the BJP government has effectively robbed farmers of their rightful compensation," he said in a post on X.

"BJP's anti-farmer and anti-people face is now visible to everyone," Cheema added.

Slamming the Centre, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, "The Modi government first lectures citizens to 'use less cars', then runs PR campaigns showing smaller PM convoys, and now quietly hikes petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre".

"So this was the real script behind the drama?" Warring said in a post on X.

"Farmers will pay more. Truck operators will pay more. Middle-class families will pay more. Every essential item will become expensive again. The truth is simple -- BJP doesn't reduce inflation, it manages headlines. 'Abki Baar, Petrol Rs 100 Paar'," Warring said in the post.

Amid the crisis in West Asia, Modi recently suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of electric vehicles, utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said "the sharp increase of Rs 3 per litre in petrol and diesel prices, along with a Rs 2 hike in CNG prices, will deliver a crippling blow to the common man, who is already battling inflation and rising living costs".

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"Our farmers will also bear the brunt of this hike and find no solace in the meagre Rs 72 per quintal increase in MSP. Trade and industry will also suffer immensely," Badal said in a post on X.

Badal appealed to the Government of India to take urgent steps to control inflation and announce measures that enhance the income of farmers, traders, industry, and the common man.

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Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday, the first rate increase in more than four years, amid mounting losses of fuel retailers due to surging global crude prices.

(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by The Daily Jagran staff and has been published through syndicated feed by PTI.)