NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress, led by Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken, on Sunday organised a protest march and many demonstrations across 280 blocks of the Capital against the BJP-led Central government and the AAP-led Delhi government over soaring prices of petrol, diesel, LPG, kerosene and other essential commodities.
Addressing the demonstrators, Maken blamed both BJP and AAP for the rising prices.
He said that while the BJP-led Centre has increased the excise duty 11 times on petrol and diesel, AAP in Delhi has increased VAT three times on petrol and diesel, which resulted into 95 per cent increase in excise and VAT on petrol and 208 per cent increase in excise and VAT on Diesel between 2014 and 2018.
Maken said the AAP government in Delhi has also failed to curb hoarding of essential commodities in the Capital, which is one of the main causes for rising prices.
The Delhi Congress chief said that in 2013-14, rates of crude oil in the international market were 105.52 dollars per barrel; whereas in 2016-17, these rates slashed to 47.56 dollars per barrel.
However, the prices of petrol and diesel are increasing continuously and the cost of diesel per litre is at Rs 62.88 and petrol per liter at Rs 72.26 in Delhi itself, Maken said, adding that the poor are striving to even have meal twice in a day.
Citing an example, Maken said that in 2014, rice was sold at Rs 21 per kg, while today, one kg rice is available at Rs 40.
He added that in 2014, kerosene was available at Rs 14.96 per litre, while it has touched Rs 22.65 per litre in 2018.
Maken added that in the same way, one LPG cylinder was available at Rs 414 in 2014, but has increased to Rs 736 in 2018.