The Congress has called a Bharat Bandh on September 10 over rising fuel prices. Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are the other opposition parties which have extended their support to Congress’ call.
Other parties such as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have also extended their support.
DMK President M.K. Stalin also took to Twitter to show his party’s support.
“DMK will extend complete support to the #BharatBandh call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol-diesel. I urge the people and party cadres to make the bandh on 10th Sept a big success #FuelPriceHike @RahulGandhi,” he tweeted.
DMK will extend complete support to the #BharatBandh call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol-diesel.
I urge the people and party cadres to make the bandh on 10th Sept a big success #FuelPriceHike @RahulGandhi
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 7, 2018
On the other hand, Left parties have also given a separate call for bandh on the same day.
Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Ahmed Patel, along with CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and NCP’s Tariq Anwar met at rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav’s residence to finalise the decision on bandh.
“Most of the parties have given consent…but consultation is going on with three or four parties. We have not yet spoken to the BSP. As far as the Trinamool Congress is concerned, they have agreed for the agitation. They will not give the bandh call,” The Indian Express quoted AICC treasurer Ahmed Patel as saying.
The bandh will be observed between 9 am and 3 pm and the grand old party has also asked civil society groups and NGOs to be a part of the bandh.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that petrol and diesel should be brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
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“This is unprecedented. Yet the Prime Minister chooses to remain silent. There should be an immediate reduction of central excise duty as also excessive VAT in the states. Petrol and diesel should be brought under the GST which would give some relief to the people,” he said.
On Thursday, Surjewala took to Twitter to intimate about the same.
He wrote, “#BharatBandh call by INC on 10th September, 2018 against the ₹11 lakh Cr loot by Modi Govt on fuel prices – Petrol/Diesel. May 2014: Crude Oil 106.24 USD/ Barrel; Petrol 71.41; Diesel 55.49. 4 Sept 2018: Crude Oil 73-77 USD/ Barrel; Petrol 79.31; Diesel 71.34.”
#BharatBandh call by INC on 10th September, 2018 against the ₹11 lakh Cr loot by Modi Govt on fuel prices – Petrol/Diesel.
May 2014
Crude Oil 106.24 USD/ Barrel;
Petrol 71.41 ; Diesel 55.494 Sept 2018
Crude Oil 73-77 USD/ Barrel;
Petrol 79.31 ; Diesel 71.34— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 6, 2018
After a gap of a day on September 5, petrol and diesel prices witnessed a rise for the second consecutive day today.
While petrol prices rose to ₹79.99 per litre (up by ₹0.48 per litre) in the national capital, it increased to ₹87.39 per litre (up by ₹0.48 per litre) in Mumbai.
Diesel prices, on the other hand, increased by ₹0.52 per litre (₹72.07 per litre) in Delhi and by ₹0.55 per litre (₹76.51) in Mumbai today.