Cong claims 10 lakh signatures against petrol price hike

The three-day campaign conducted by Delhi Congress for collecting 10 lakh signatures against increasing fuel prices culminated today.
Congress blamed BJP-led central and AAP governments for the rise in petrol and diesel prices at a time when fuel rates have "plummeted internationally".
"With crude oil prices plummeting as low as USD 58 per barrel internationally, petrol and diesel could be sold for Rs 38 and 30 respectively in Delhi if excise duty and VAT are rolled back.
"The 'Modi + Kejriwal Tax' has pushed up the prices and people are bearing the brunt by paying a high price for petrol and diesel," a statement quoted Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken as saying.

Maken, who today joined party workers at various petrol pumps as they collected over 10 lakh signatures from consumers there, explained that for Rs 100 worth of petrol, people are being "forced" to pay Rs 54 to the two governments in the form of taxes, notwithstanding the slump in prices globally.
"Consumers had to pay just Rs 31 as taxes for Rs 100 worth petrol when Congress was in power, while crude oil was priced at USD 108 per barrel internationally," he said.

The latest increase had come on May 31, when oil companies hiked petrol price by Rs 2.58 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.26 a litre.

Petrol costs Rs 65.60 per litre in Delhi after the recent increase, while diesel costs Rs 53.93 a litre. Prices were last hiked on May 17.
The party plans to present the signature campaign's outcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking reversal of the hike.