The Congress on Monday described the savage increase in prices of petroleum products as “extortion” by the Narendra Modi government, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the public has been betrayed because the intention was to help crony capitalists.

Running a campaign under the hashtag “TaxExtortion” on social media, the Congress attacked Prime Minister Modi for selling diesel which is used by the farmers in tractors at a much higher price than aviation fuel used in aircraft.

Rahul tweeted: “This is a very serious issue. People’s ordinary needs are more important than politics and vote. Their needs are not fulfilled these days. I stand with the people who have been betrayed by Modi to help his capitalist friends.”

Describing petrol-diesel prices as “extortion”, Rahul had tweeted on Sunday: “Sabka vinash, mehngai ka vikas (Destruction of everyone, development of price rise).”

Party’s communication chief Randeep Surjewala said: “The government was expected to fight rising prices and it started filling coffers by increasing prices. For how long will this loot continue?”

The Congress has alleged that the Modi government earned Rs 23 lakh crore by taxing petroleum products alone.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi also tweeted: “This blatant extortionism by the #BJP must stop. After fifth consecutive hike, now common man’s fuel, #Diesel, has touched (Rs) 100 mark. This unprecedented robbery should be discontinued if we want to project ourselves as a ‘Welfare State’ by any means.”

Prices of petrol, diesel and LPG have continued to rise while crude oil prices in international markets have crashed to historic low. While the average crude price during the Manmohan Singh government was $115 per barrel, Modi had the good fortune of a much cheaper rate during the bulk of his tenure, even lower than $50 per barrel.

The Congress has decided to launch an awareness campaign throughout the country from November 14 to 29 to educate people how Modi used petrol-diesel-LPG to loot them and didn’t care for prices of other essential commodities as well.

Marches will be taken out in every district to highlight the scourge of surging inflation. Apart from petroleum products which kept getting costlier without a break, even prices of edible oils have reached unprecedented levels, going far beyond the reach of the poor.