UP: As fuel prices rise, Congress MLC seeks permit to enter Vidhan Parishad on bullock cart

The Congress has decided to observe May 26 as ‘Betrayal Day’ to condemn the Narendra Modi government’s alleged failure to curb corruption as well as the prices of petroleum products.

Congress MLC Deepak Singh has requested the Vidhan Parishad secretariat to issue an entry pass for a bullock cart, so he attend legislative council proceedings without spending a fortune on transportation costs.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi campaigns on a a bullock cart for the Karnataka assembly elections, which was held on May 12. Uttar Pradesh Congress MLC Deepak Singh has held that the bullock cart is the only viable vehicle of daily commute in this age of rising fuel prices. (AP File)

“As the Bharatiya Janata Party government has failed to control the prices of petrol and diesel, I request you to issue me an entry pass for a bullock cart through 2018. I can use it to ferry myself as well as other members,” Singh said in a letter to the principal secretary of the Vidhan Parishad.

Fuel prices rose for twelfth consecutive day on Friday, with petrol costing ₹77.83 a litre in Delhi and ₹85.65 in Mumbai. The increasing cost of crude oil in the international market and the weakening of the rupee against the US dollar are some of the reasons accorded for this phenomenon.

Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to observe May 26 as ‘Betrayal Day’ to condemn the Narendra Modi government’s alleged failure to curb corruption as well as the prices of petroleum products. While party members will hold demonstrations at all district headquarters, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar will lead a rally in Lucknow.

Even Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Modi on Thursday, after the Prime Minister accepted an online fitness challenge posed by Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.

In a tweet, Rahul urged Prime Minister Modi to take up the ‘fuel challenge’ to reduce skyrocketing fuel prices in the country. “Dear PM, Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response,” he said.

Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan has assured relief from rising fuel prices soon.