HP Cong hits at BJP for spiralling fuel prices

The Congress party on Wednesday hit out at the NDA government over spiralling prices of petroleum and increasing inflation in country

The Congress party on Wednesday hit out at the NDA government over spiralling prices of petroleum and increasing inflation in country.

Congress workers during a protest rally at Chaura Maidan in Shimla on Wednesday. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

Congress staged a protest rally in the vicinity of Vidhan Sabha at Ambedkar Chowk. All India Congress Committee in-charge for Himachal affairs Rajeev Shukla condemned the NDA regime.

Shukla, in his speech, called ex-CM Virbhadra Singh ‘Sher-e-Himachal’.

Addressing the protesters, he recalled PM Modi criticising the Congress party over inflation. “Oil prices are skyrocketing and the government says it’s not in their control. Then who should be held responsible?” he wondered.

“Government properties are on sale and Modi is selling them one by one. It is clear that Modi is working for the capitalists. He doesn’t have any concerns for the country or the people,” he said.

“In a way, the country’s heritage is being sold. Factories are being sold. It is clear that the country is not in safe hands,” he said.

Shukla criticised the BJP and said that the party came to power by showing dreams of good days, but has pushed the country into unemployment and inflation.

He heaped praises on the UPA government’s fiscal management and said that the government had kept inflation and prices well under control.

“Despite reduction in crude oil prices, petrol and diesel are being sold at double the cost,” he said.

Shukla accused BJP of trying to undermine the farmers. He said the government is buckling under pressure of corporate giants.

State party chief Kuldeep Singh Rathore, during the rally, said he is working dedicatedly on implementation of programmes assigned to him by the party high command.

Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri slammed the Jai Ram Thakur-led Himachal government for it’s “financial mismanagement”.

He hit out at the government over increasing unemployment rate. He even accused the government of making back-door recruitments.

Former CM Virbhadra Singh also credited Congress for the country’s development.