BJP, Cong spar over rising fuel prices, Bharat Bandh violence

The BJP and the Congress engaged in a war of words in Jharkhand Tuesday over rising fuel prices and reports of violence during the six-hour Bharat Bandh.

Accusing the Congress of "misleading people", the Jharkhand unit of the BJP said countries such as Italy and Germany pay more to buy petrol and diesel.

Addressing a press meet here, the saffron party's state unit spokesman Praveen Prabhakar said petrol price per litre in Italy is Rs 137.38, Rs 125 in England and Germany and Rs 157 in Hong Kong.

The BJP leader also condemned Monday's violence in various parts of the country during Bharat Bandh.

"It seems the Congress is taking inspiration from naxalites and terrorists to capture power," he said.

The Congress had called for a six-hour Bharat Bandh Monday to protest against spiralling fuel prices and depreciation of rupee.

Stating that international factors were to blame for sudden rise in petrol and diesel prices, Prabhakar said the Congress is practising "politics of lies".

"During the Congress regime in 2013, the petrol rate in Kolkata was Rs 83.63, now it is Rs 83.39," he claimed.

The Centre wants to control fuel prices, but the states are not ready for GST implementation on petrol.

"What message do they (Congress) want to send out through violence? A two-year-old child died on his way to hospital in Bihar due to bandh and innocent persons were allegedly attacked and injured in the violence," he added.

Earlier in the day, Congress party spokesman Ajoy Kumar said Monday's bandh was successful as 21 opposition parties supported the cause.

"This unity of opposition parties would continue in the forthcoming elections. It was evident from the success of yesterday's (Monday) bandh. Neither the Prime Minister nor the BJP responded to the issues raised by the Congress," he stated at a press meet here.

The present dispensation has been selling petrol at Rs 34 per litre to countries such as England, Malaysia and Israel but people here are forced to cough up Rs 82 for each litre in Delhi, Kumar alleged.

"The BJP has engaged in empty arguments over the success or failure of the bandh instead of responding to the issues raised by the Congress," Kumar said, adding that people of this country need an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the rise in fuel prices.