Patna, Feb 15 ( UNI) Terming the hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas as anti-people, Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra today said that this has led to severe inflation and had adversely affected the lives of common people, poor, farmers, labourer and transporters.

Mr Mishra alleged here that following faulty policies of the centre and the state the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas were increasing even after the cost of crude oil has declined in the international market. He said that common people were exploited whereas Oil companies were getting hefty profits because of the faulty policies.

The Congress leader alleged that due to the excise duty and VAT imposed by the centre and Bihar Government, people were forced to buy petrol at Rs 45 per litre higher price and diesel at Rs 40 3.50 higher rate.

He said that the crude oil at the time of Congress government the price of petrol was Rs 74 per litre and diesel Rs 57 per litre.

Compared to this the price of crude oil currently was lower than half of the rate it was in May 2014 but petrol was being sold at Rs 91.1 2 and diesel Rs 84.5 7 per litre.

Mr Mishra said that the price of cooking gas cylinder was Rs 414 at the time of Congress government which has increased to Rs 867 per cylinder.

He alleged that the centre was continuously increasing the production cess following which the prices of petrol and diesel were high.

In addition to this, the surcharge and VAT imposed by the Bihar Government has also forced the people to buy the petrol and diesel at Higher prices.

He alleged that both governments were hell-bent to fill their coffer and the governments in the name of taxes and VAT have so far minted money.

He said that the double engine government if wished can provide petrol and diesel at a cheaper rate to the people of Bihar and demanded to slash taxes and VAT for convenience of the common people.

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