The Congress on Thursday said Indians would get relief from their problems only after they threw the BJP out of power, recalling how one setback in the by-elections had forced the Narendra Modi government to slash the prices of petrol and diesel.
Running a social media campaign under the hashtag “BJP harao, mehngai hatao”, the party said: “The message from the recent by-elections is that ‘achchhe din’ will come for the ordinary citizens only when the BJP is thrown out of power.
“To repeal farm laws — defeat BJP. To put an end to price rise — defeat BJP. To keep our daughters safe — defeat BJP. To protect our borders & bravehearts — defeat BJP. To stop the spread of hate & violence — defeat BJP. To uphold our democracy — defeat BJP.”
Unperturbed by the BJP’s attempt to change the narrative on petroleum prices by asking its state governments cut taxes on petrol and diesel, the Congress accused the Centre of giving token relief after raising fuel prices sky high.
A tweet in Hindi posted by the party said: “The BJP is indulging in the drama of giving back one slice of bread to the poor after snatching 10 from them. The people will now give the BJP a double dose of democratic treatment to take back what belongs to them.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the price reduction as a compulsion. “Ye dil se nahin, dar se nikla faisla hai. Wasooli sarkar ki loot ko aane waale chunav mein jawab dena hai (This is a decision taken out of fear and not from the heart. The extortionist government must be taught a lesson in the coming elections).”
Priyanka will lead the Congress in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram tweeted: “The results of the 30 Assembly and three Lok Sabha by-elections have produced a by-product. The Centre has cut excise duties on petrol and diesel! It is a confirmation of our charge that fuel prices are high mainly because of high taxes. And our charge that high fuel taxes is because of the greed of the central government.”
Party spokesperson Pawan Khera underlined that the UPA had sold petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders much cheaper despite an average crude rate of $113 per barrel, while the international crude price was just $40-50 per barrel during the Modi government’s first term and barely $80 even now.
Khera argued that the high prices were primarily a result of the high taxes levied by the Centre.
“People will have to defeat the BJP to get relief from high prices; one slap in the bypolls and some relief came about,” he said.
Another party spokesperson, Abhishek Singhvi, said: “First take the fuel price from Rs 70 to Rs 110. Then give a Rs 5 reduction after poor performance in the bypolls. BJP exists with, for & by the elections.”
The Congress attacked the BJP and the Centre for constantly claiming that the high prices were caused by international factors, and then reducing the prices when the crude rates were rising. The BJP gave the game away by praising the Prime Minister for providing relief to consumers.