New Delhi
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted “challenge accepted” to Virat Kohli’s post tagging him on a fitness campaign, Rahul Gandhi repurposed the thread to target the government on the rising fuel prices. The Congress president also warned of a nationwide agitation by his party if fuel prices were not reduced.
“Dear PM, Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response.#FuelChallenge,” he tweeted.
Petrol prices shot up for the 11th straight day today, with the cost of petrol breaching Rs. 85 in Mumbai. The price of the fuel is already at an all-time high in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. In Delhi and Chennai, petrol was sold for Rs. 77.47 and Rs. 80.42 per litre. Petrol in Kolkata costs more than Rs. 80 a litre, and is at its highest in four years.
Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala also took a dig at Modi for remaining “silent” on the rising fuel prices, and posed a ‘challenge’ to him to utilise the Rs. 10 lakh crore “looted” through central excise on petrol and diesel, for helping reduce the fuel prices and restore the “economic fitness” of the common man.
The steep climb in fuel prices is attributed to a surge in crude oil prices and high excise duty. The price of Brent crude oil is over $79 per barrel.
The government is looking at “both short-term and long-term solutions”, said Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today.
