Telangana Congress to protest against hike in oil prices on July 4

HYDERABAD: The Congress on Friday said the BJP-led NDA government was not passing on the benefit of a fall in global prices of crude oil to the petrol and diesel consumers in the country.
Telangana Congress president and Nalgonda MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the previous Congress-led UPA government used to pass on the benefit of drop in the price of barrel price of crude oil to the consumers. The fuel prices were increased only when the crude oil became costlier.
"The price of crude oil in the international market is at $40. But Prime Minister Narendra Modiled BJP government at the Centre has not extended the benefit to the fuel consumers. Instead, the central government increased the excise duty. Even the Telangana state government is collecting higher value added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel in the country which has resulted in further increase in the oil prices,” Uttam said.
The Telangana Congress president also condemned the TRS government for the inflated electricity bills served on the power consumers for the lockdown period. “Almost every family in the State received bills which are two to four times times higher than the average bills they used to receive before the lockdown,” he said.
He demanded that Telangana government waive off the electricity bills for two months of lockdown period for white ration cards holders. Further, he demanded that the present non-telescopic method of billing be replaced with the telescopic method which would reduce the bill amount by almost 50% for all the consumers.
Uttam announced the agitation schedule and called upon the party leaders and cadre to make it successful. He addressed them on a social media platform on Friday.
He said the party leaders and cadre will protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel on July 4 in mandal headquarters, towns and municipalities and later submit copies of memorandum addressed to the President of India to the officials in the State.
A massive protest would be held on July 6 demanding waiver of power bills for the poor consumers and reduction in bill amount for the middle class.
The party cadre will protest with black flags and badges. Protests will be held before the electricity offices firms in all Assembly constituencies and district headquarters.
All the leaders and cadre should follow the covid-19 guidelines of wearing masks and maintaining physical distance during protests.