Congress protests fuel hike, Maken takes on Centre, AAP govt

Earlier, the party had planned the protest at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. However, following ‘unprecedented’ support by the common man, it decided to protest differently by forming a human chain, said a senior party leader.

Hundreds of state Congress workers on Thursday evening converged at Mandi House, Barakhamaba Road and Jantar Mantar to protest against fuel price rise.

Ajay Maken criticized the central and state government for increasing excise duty and value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel and added that high tax rates are pushing the retail oil prices further.

Party workers led by Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken formed about a three-kilometre human chain, stretching from FICCI roundabout to Parliament House.

Speaking at the protest, Maken criticised the central and state government for increasing excise duty and value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel and added that high tax rates are pushing the retail oil prices further.

“The Modi government increased excise duty on petrol and diesel 11 times to make it 133 per cent excise on petrol and 400 per cent excise on diesel while the Kejriwal government in Delhi made changes in the law to hike VAT twice as VAT cap on petrol was removed, to take it from 20 to 27 per cent while VAT on diesel was increased from 12.5 per cent to 16.75 per cent ,” he said.

“The party had planned the protest at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. But following ‘unprecedented’ support by the common man, it decided to protest differently by forming a human chain,” said a senior party leader.