Government is 'selfish' in passing benefit of petroleum prices: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today accused the Narendra Modi government of having a "selfish" and "short-sighted" approach on petroleum prices and not passing on the benefits of the slump in international crude oil prices to the consumers.

Reeling out figures, party spokesperson Rajeev Gowda said when the price of crude oil was $147 in December 2008 and the value of rupee was 42 against one US dollar, the price of petrol was Rs 64 per litre.

"Now as on December 11, the international crude oil price is $70 and the cost of petrol should have come down to around Rs 31 per litre but there is a huge difference in the price of petrol that should have been and what is there.

"Government preferred to pocket the benefit rather than passing it on to the consumers. Clearly, this government has no concern for the common man," Gowda said.

Accusing the government of having a "short sighted" and "selfish" approach, the Congress spokesperson said the NDA dispensation was "unable to manage its finance" and concerned with short-term gains."

Gowda also attacked the government saying that taking "U-turns" and "going back on promises" were its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

"They took U-turns on the promises on the basis of which they formed a government. Their agenda is anti-people. Their divisive agenda is part of the Standard Operating Procedure," he said.

Replying to questions about the controversy surrounding the issue of conversion and reconversion in certain parts of the country, Gowda said the BJP-led government will keep engaging in "such diversionary tactics to divert the attention of the people from the failure of the government in fulfilling its promises and the tough challenges ahead."

Listing the challenges of generating employment, kicking up growth and education, he said "you will get none of them but only the diversionary drama... the standards RSS divisive agenda".