The Congress party in the recent days has launched numerous protests against the fuel price hike, which included launching attacks on the Modi government, accusing it of being complicit in the matter.
It was reported that the protests by the Congress took place in various parts of the country like Mumbai, Punjab and Odisha. It was also noted that Congress president Rahul Gandhi had also participated in such a protest march in Karnataka.
Rahul Gandhi had also gone on record threatening a nationwide agitation if the Modi government did not reduce the fuel prices:
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
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 24, 2018
Hence from the reports it was evident that the Congress has portrayed itself to be vehemently opposed to any sort of a fuel price hike and would go any extent to stop it from happening.
But surprisingly the Congress doesn’t seem to be practising what it preaches, as it has been reported that the Karnataka government (where it is a majority partner) proceeded to hike the fuel prices in its state budget today:
I propose to increase the rate of tax on petrol from the present 30% to 32% and diesel from 19% to 21%, so petrol price will be increased by Rs.1.14/ltr and diesel by Rs 1.12/ltr: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy while presenting the budget pic.twitter.com/9VqBhtEkGU
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2018
As seen in the ANI tweet, the Karnataka government has increased the taxes on petrol and diesel which has rendered the prices getting higher by Rs 1.14 per litre for petrol and Rs 1.12 per litre for diesel respectively.
It also might not be possible for the Congress to site, “compulsions of electoral politics” to escape scrutiny as, CM Kumaraswamy has already gone on record stating that, “to do anything, he has to take Congress leaders’ permission without which he can’t do anything”. He also stated that he was at the Congress’ mercy as the party had extended support to him.
Hence if Kumaraswamy is to be believed, the fuel price hike could not have been processed had it not had the blessings of the Congress, which raises the question why did the Congress choose to be so blatant in its hypocrisy.
