Pune: Congress Party Protest Against Rising Prices Of Petrol, Diesel; Vishwajeet Kadam Absent

Pune, 8th July 2021: Alleging that the wrong policy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government has led to a sharp rise in prices of petrol, diesel, gas, edible oil and other essential commodities, the Congress party took out a cycle rally today and protested against the BJP government.

However, the Minister of State Vishwajeet Kadam did not participate in the protest. There is talk that Kadam has stayed away from the agitation after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took action against builder Avinash Bhosale, Kadam’s father-in-law.

As per the instructions of the All India Congress Committee, the Pune City District Congress Committee has organized a week-long agitation against inflation. As a part of it, the rally was held between Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue near the Collector office and the Council Hall.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Basavaraj Patil, Pune Congress president Ramesh Bagwe, state vice president Mohan Joshi, former minister Balasaheb Shivarkar, Adv. Abhay Chhajed, Kamal Vyvahare, Sanjay Balgude, Datta Bhairat, Amir Sheikh, Aba Bagul, Corporator Ravindra Dhangekar, Chandusheth Kadam, Avinash Bagwe, Ajit Darekar, Manish Anand, Rafiq Sheikh, Lata Rajguru, Sujata Shetty, Gopal Tiwari, Women President Sonali Marane, Youth President Vishal Maleke, NSUI’s Bhushan Ranbhare, Sevadal’s Prakash Pawar and others participated in the cycle rally.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Basavaraj Patil said, “Inflation has made life difficult for the people during the last seven years of the Modi government at the Centre. Every item is getting more expensive day by day. The Modi government has not tried to give any relief to the people. On the other hand, crores of rupees have been looted in the form of taxes. While the price of crude oil in the international market is at a low level, the central government has robbed the people by imposing huge taxes. The excise duty on diesel and petrol has been hiked by the central government. Today, the price of petrol is Rs 106. The price of diesel is Rs 96 per litre.  The price of cooking gas has gone up to Rs 850. Prices of edible oils and pulses have also gone up sharply. People are suffering due to this inflation. The Modi government should pay immediate attention to this inflation and give relief to the general public. If this is not done, the Congress party will start a fierce agitation in the interest of the people.”

Congress City President Ramesh Bagwe said, “Pune City District Congress Committee has organized agitation against inflation from July 8 to 16. Petrol and diesel prices had come down during the UPA rule even though crude oil prices had peaked in the international market. It was affordable to the common man but today the Modi government has made a new history by increasing the rates of petrol and diesel. The Corona epidemic has brought the poor on the streets and the middle class has lost their jobs. In such a scenario, the people have to face inflation.”

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Mohan Joshi said, “Congress president Sonia Gandhi has ordered a mass agitation against the skyrocketing inflation. Accordingly, protest has been organized all over Maharashtra from today. During the UPA government, BJP leaders Narendra Modi, Smriti Irani and other leaders used to protest against the hike in petrol and diesel prices, saying ‘Governments that cannot control petrol and diesel prices have no right to stay in power’. So they must control inflation immediately, otherwise they have no right to stay in power. It is because of the Modi government’s industrialist policy that the country is deteriorating today.”

After this, the Congress delegation submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner regarding inflation.

Virendra Kirad, Mukhtar Sheikh, Rajendra Shirsat, Manzoor Sheikh, Sunil Shinde, Vitthal Gaikwad, Sunil Ghadge, Satish Pawar, Pradip Pardeshi, Ramesh Sonkamble, Shoaib Inamdar, Balasaheb Amarale, Sahil Kedari, Sujit Yadav, Shilar Ratangiri, Shabir Khan, Valmik Jagtap, Gaurav Borade, Ravi Mohite, Sunil Pandit, Deepak Oval, Hasan Qureshi, Selvaraj Anthony, Bhagwan Kadu, Chetan Agarwal, Munnabhai Sheikh, Bharat Surana, Mehbub Nadaf, Parvez Tamboli, Hemant Bagul, Saurabh Amarale, Abhijeet Rokde, Rajiya Ballari, Sharda Veer and others were present during the rally.