Mumbai: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi government is only working for rich businessmen, and the extra money collected from fuel hike is being used to give bailout packages to them.
“During the Manmohan Singh government, crude oil prices had touched $140 per barrel, which resulted in an overall rise in fuel prices the world over. But today, the fuel prices are $70 per barrel. The extra money is being used to bail out select businessmen,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters at MCA in Bandra-Kurla Complex.
He, however, entertained only one question, and abruptly ended the press conference in less than three minutes.
Mr. Gandhi said his party has been demanding that petrol, diesel be brought under the Goods and Services Tax. “Why hasn’t this been done? It seems the PM is not interested in this.”
The Congress leader said medium, small, and micro industries suffer the most because of the Centre’s economic policies. “The PM is not even speaking about it, nor is he providing relief to them.”
Replying to a question about the grand alliance and the prime ministerial face of the Opposition, Mr. Gandhi did not answer in clear terms. “The grand alliance is to oppose the BJP, the RSS, and Mr. Modi, who are encroaching upon the Constitution. The Congress is looking to connect all parties standing against this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam apologised for the confusion over Mr. Gandhi’s press conference. “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to media, but we had informed that he would only give bytes to electronic media and would not take questions,” he said.