The Bharat bandh in Delhi was a “flop show” alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Opposition leader Vijender Gupta.
He accused both Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of having “no moral authority” to protest over fuel prices.
Mr. Gupta alleged that fuel prices were “much higher” during the Congress regime in Delhi about five years ago while the AAP Delhi government had “failed to roll back increased VAT on petrol and diesel” for the last three years.
‘Height of hypocrisy’
“When the Union government reduced the rate of petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre, the Delhi government did not pass on the benefit to citizens. We demand that the Delhi government roll back 12% VAT on petrol and 10.5% VAT on diesel arbitrarily imposed during its regime,” he said.
Terming it the “height of hypocrisy of the AAP” that “cannot stop itself” from filling its coffers with higher revenue earned out of rising petrol and diesel prices, the Leader of Opposition questioned its decision to protest against price rise.
“It is an undeniable truth is that had the Kejriwal government controlled its greed for higher revenue, the fuel prices in Delhi would have been much lower. The continuation of increased taxes during its regime is a gross injustice to Delhiites particularly when Delhi has become cash-rich with a budget allocation of ₹53,000 crores,” Mr. Gupta alleged.