Oil minister blames Cong for sky-high fuel prices

Oil minister blames Cong for sky-high fuel prices

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday accused the previous UPA regime for fuel price hike stating that Congress had left millions of crores of rupees due on the present government due to which the Centre has to pay both its interest and its price.

The Union Minister while responding to a question on protests by the Congress at various petrol pumps across the country against fuel price hike, said, “The economists have recently brought a point to the fore. The Congress, before 2014, had left a debt of lakhs of crores of rupees over oil bonds. Due to this reason, the interest and the principal has to be paid off by the current government. This is also a big reason for increase in oil prices.”

He further said, “There has been a rise in the prices of crude oil in the international market. To fulfill the domestic needs, 80 per cent oil has to be imported. This is the main reason for the rise in prices of petrol and diesel.” “I had admitted previously, that the Central and the state governments are utilising taxes for welfare schemes, to provide employment and to undertake development activities. There is nothing to hide in this,” added Pradhan.

The fuel prices continue to soar across the country and have crossed Rs 100 in many states. Meanwhile, Congress will launch an agitation against inflation and rising fuel prices, sources said on Monday.

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