PM and FM must take economics lessons from Dr. Manmohan Singh – Soni

Amritsar, 31 May (Punjab Post Bureau) – Minister for School Education, Environment and Freedom Fighters OP Soni supporting the state wide protests held by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee against the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel in India at a time when price of crude oil is decreasing in the international market said that BJP government has made up its mind to extracts every single penny from the pockets of the commoners. Soni said that PM Narendra Modi is experimenting with the fragile economy in every means available to him. Demonetisation, GST, fuel prices hikes have hit the commoners in a really bad way. Soni said that in 2012 the price of crude oil was 104 USD per barrel and the retail price of petrol was Rs 70 per litre in India, the BJP had then called for a Bharat bandh. At present, the price of crude oil is nearly half the price in 2012, why then is petrol being sold at Rs 80 per litre and diesel at Rs 69? asked the minister. Soni mocked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should take economics classes from former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh instead of exploiting the common people. Soni added that Central Excise duty has been increased by 211% on petrol and 400% on diesel in the last four years and PM and FM can ask for an advice from Dr. Singh on how to reduce excise duty on petrol, and remove these two taxes on fuel to bring it under the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is 28 per cent, ultimately giving relief to the consumers. He said that leaving politics aside the PM and FM must learn that hike in fuel prices result in increased commodity prices which is a serious concern for the commoners. He said that PM and FM should for once come out of their billionaire friends nests to listen to the commoners who are finding it hard to make ends meet.  Soni congratulated Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, PPCC Chief Sunil Jakhar and the Congress workers for a record victory in Shahkot Elections. He said that people have endorsed the policies of Congress in Punjab.