‘After losing 14 bypolls’: Cong says fuel duty cut not Diwali gift, but ‘jumla’

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday said the nation does not need jumlas as the Centre decided to reduce the central excise duty of ₹5 on petrol and ₹10 on diesel, a day before Diwali. “In year 2021, prices of petrol were hiked by ₹28 and diesel by ₹26 per litre. After losing 14 bye-elections and 2 Lok Sabhas, reducing the petrol-diesel price by ₹5 and ₹10 is tom-tommed as ‘Diwali gift’ of Modi Ji! Hey Ram…” Surjewala tweeted.

“In May 2014, price of petrol was ₹71.41, diesel was ₹55.49 but crude oil was $105.71 per barrel. Crude oil is $82 per barrel today. When will the prices equate year 2014?” Surjewala said.

Comparing the excise of petrol and diesel in the Modi government with that of the Congress government, Surjewala said the excise duty on petrol was ₹9.48 litre on petrol and ₹3.46 litre on diesel.