Cong slams Centre over fuel price hike, inflation and unemployment

Jaipur: Senior Congress functionaries on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Centre over rising petrol and diesel prices, inflation and unemployment, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring public distress while focusing on elections.

AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said people across the country were deeply troubled by fuel price rise, inflation and joblessness, while the govt failed to address their concerns.

“Petrol and diesel prices are rising daily. Unemployment is a major concern, and young people are not finding jobs. We will agitate at the national level, and you will see this in the coming days. This is not a planned agitation; people are already in distress. There will be a spontaneous agitation,” Venugopal said while speaking to the media in Jaipur.

Targeting the Prime Minister, he alleged that the Centre was “completely ignoring” public suffering. “PM Narendra Modi is travelling around the world while people in the country are struggling with inflation and unemployment,” he said.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the steady increase in fuel prices after the conclusion of the Assembly elections in five states. He claimed the Centre was burdening the public by increasing petrol and diesel prices in phases.

Gehlot said that since the elections ended, fuel prices were increased repeatedly, “sometimes by 90 paise, sometimes by nearly Rs 3.” He questioned why the central govt was not clearly explaining the economic situation to the country.

Referring to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot said Gandhi repeatedly warned that the country was heading towards an “economic storm of inflation”. He urged the Centre to take corrective steps before the situation worsened further.

“The govt should clearly state what the current situation is and how severe it can become, so citizens remain prepared,” Gehlot said.

AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot attacked the govt over the timing of the fuel price hikes. Addressing the media, Pilot questioned why the increases were imposed only after election results were declared.

“If you had to raise prices and burden the public, why not do it openly before the elections?” Pilot asked. “During elections, speeches were delivered, but after the results, people are being asked to cut down expenses.”

“The govt pays no attention to inflation. It seems the govt has only one agenda — win elections, harass the opposition, and defame opposition leaders,” Pilot alleged.