Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Friday strongly condemned the BJP-led Central Government over the continuous rise in fuel prices and inflation, stating that the BJP-led government has pushed common people, farmers and small businesses into financial distress while favouring a handful of corporate houses.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab State President Aman Arora said the entire country is witnessing the suffering caused by rising inflation despite the tall promises made by PM Modi before coming to power 12 years ago. “The BJP Government has once again burdened common people, farmers and small businesses with rising fuel prices and inflation. The entire country is witnessing how people are suffering under inflation despite the tall promises made by PM Modi before coming to power 12 years ago,” he added.
Referring to the latest hike in fuel and LPG prices, Aman Arora said, “Immediately after the West Bengal elections, the Central Government increased the price of commercial LPG cylinders by ₹943, dealing a severe blow to small businesses and traders. Along with this, the Centre increased petrol prices by ₹3.14 per litre, diesel by ₹3.11 per litre and CNG prices by ₹2. This is a shameful gift to the people of the country.”
He asserted that the BJP only remembers public welfare during elections but imposes economic burdens on people after securing votes. “The BJP talks about public welfare during elections, but after winning votes it starts looting the hard-earned money of the people. These price hikes are being done only to benefit a few selected corporate houses close to the ruling party,” Aman Arora said.
Targeting the BJP over its poll promises, Aman Arora stated, “The BJP had promised to deposit ₹15 lakh into every citizen’s bank account, create two crore jobs and double farmers’ income. Instead of doubling farmers’ income, the BJP Government has continuously increased the financial burden on farmers through inflation and rising fuel costs.”
Highlighting the impact on Punjab’s farming sector, the AAP Punjab State President said the diesel price hike will directly hit agricultural operations during the paddy sowing season. “Farmers require thousands of litres of water and fuel for irrigation during paddy sowing. The increase in diesel prices will directly affect their agricultural operations and increase their financial burden,” he added.
Aman Arora further said that there was a time when even a minor increase in petrol prices would trigger nationwide protests, but people have now become exhausted and frustrated after enduring inflation for the last 12 to 13 years. “The present situation is the result of the BJP Government’s complete failure in domestic economic policies under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” he remarked.
Questioning the Centre’s claims of making India “Atmanirbhar”, Aman Arora said import dependency has instead increased significantly over the past decade. Taking a dig at the Centre’s foreign policy decisions related to oil imports, he said, “It is difficult to understand why India is hesitant in making independent decisions on purchasing oil despite opportunities available from countries like Russia.”
Strongly condemning the increase in petrol, diesel and CNG prices, Aman Arora demanded that the Central Government immediately roll back the hike. “If inflation continues to suffocate the common people, public anger could spill onto the streets, leading to major political consequences for the BJP Government,” he warned.
