FM’s Advice: Centre, States Should Talk To Bring Down Retail Fuel Price

New Delhi: Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday suggested that the Centre and state governments should talk and bring down retail fuel price to a reasonable level for consumers.

Nirmala termed the rising fuel price a “vexatious” issue and said that there is “no answer except for a fall in fuel price to convince anyone,” Hindustan Times reported.

Petrol and diesel prices have been going north in the country over the last 10 days. It has breached the Rs 100 mark in some cities for the first time in India.

Price per litre increased by 39 paise on Saturday, pushing the rate above Rs 90 per litre in Delhi. The price of diesel rose to to Rs 80.97 a litre following a rise of 37 paise.

In Mumbai, petrol price touched an all-time high of Rs 97 per litre, while diesel sold at Rs 88.06 a litre on Saturday.

Congress Calls BJP ‘Bhayankar Janloot Party’

The Congress has been protesting the continuous rise in fuel prices, calling the BJP as ‘Bhayankar Janloot Party’.

Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the Union government of looting citizens by hiking fuel prices at a time when cost of crude oil continues to drop across the world.

“The petrol diesel tax dependent Narendra Modi government has become a curse for the people of the country. From May 2014 till now, the Modi government has looted the people to the tune of Rs 21,50,000 crore by applying taxes on petrol and diesel. The new name of the BJP is ‘Bhayankar Janloot Party’. The prices of petrol and diesel have been increasing for 11 consecutive days,” he said.

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress workers observed a statewide half-day ‘bandh’ against fuel price hike. “People are in distress due to skyrocketing prices of diesel and petrol. The government is busy collecting revenue and it is least bothered about giving relief to the public,” said former Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

Also Read: Odisha BJD Slams Fuel Price Hike, Seeks Reply From Centre

Also Read: Congress Calls For Odisha Bandh Over Rising Fuel Prices