Center should apologize to the country for increasing fuel prices: KTR

Hyderabad (IANS) | Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday apologized to the BJP-led central government for the skyrocketing fuel prices. In an open letter criticizing the central government for “burdening the common man with increased fuel prices”, the BRS leader said the Center was looting the public by citing international crude oil prices as the reason for fuel price hike. But his deceit was exposed.

KTR said, in 2013 when a barrel of crude oil cost $110, a liter of petrol cost Rs 76. Now, when a barrel of crude oil costs $66, a liter of petrol costs Rs 110.

KTR said the Center was looting the poor and middle class people by raising prices only to benefit some corporates.

“All essential commodities have become costlier due to the 45 per cent increase in fuel prices since 2014,” the state minister said.

KTR also said that due to the increase in diesel prices, the state governments have been forced to increase the public transport charges and the public transport system is on the verge of crisis because of the central government.

Inflation is also at a 45-year high due to the failures of the central government, he said.

The Minister expressed surprise that though the Center makes tall claims of importing crude oil from Russia at low cost, the common man is not given the same benefits and only two oil companies are making huge profits.

KTR said, the central government is importing crude oil from Russia at a low cost, refining it and selling the refined fuel to other countries. They are hiding this vital information from the public.

He said the Center has also reduced tax on fuel windfall to benefit some corporate entities.

KTR hit out at Union ministers for their remarks that bringing fuel under GST would bring down prices.

KTR said, the price of LPG cylinder has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1200 under GST, making it the costliest LPG cylinder in the world.

He also accused the central government of hatching a conspiracy to stall the discussion on price hike in Parliament.

The only way to stop the central government’s loot and reduce fuel prices is to dismiss the BJP, KTR said.

–IANS