Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has intensified its attack on BJP leader and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over increasing fuel prices and sought a response from him.
Lashing out at Pradhan for his silence over this matter, the ruling party leaders said Monday that prices of petrol and diesel are much less in other neighbouring countries than India where the price is spiralling here.
“The tax imposed by Centre on petrol and diesel has increased by 115 per cent and 500 per cent respectively when compared with tax rate of 2014,” said a media release issued by BJD general secretary Bijay Nayak.
Stating that fuel prices have reached a record high, Nayak alleged that the Petroleum Minister has remained tight lipped on this issue and is favouring the oil company owners.
The BJD also alleged that despite holding two key portfolios at the Centre – petroleum and skill development – Pradhan has remained mum over the performance of his departments.
BJD leaders alleged that not just prices of petrol and diesel, the cost of cooking gas has also increased.
The party said that because of the hike in prices of LPG cylinders, 80 per cent of women in the country, who were getting it at a subsidised rate, are now unable to afford it.
BJD leaders also alleged that the Modi government at Centre has also failed to keep its promise of creating 2 crore jobs per annum through skill development.
Meanwhile, the BJP state leaders hit back at the ruling dispensation in the state. BJP leaders, who said that the prices of fuel depend on the price of crude oil in international market, wanted to know why the state government is not removing the VAT it has imposed on fuel.
PNN