Rahul Gandhi's Tank Up Comment Led To "Hoarding": Oil Minister
NDTV
The Congress has been accusing the BJP government of stalling the hike in fuel prices during elections and raising the prices soon after the polls are over.
Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments asking consumers to tank up in preparation for an imminent hike in petrol and diesel prices, saying that one statement led to "hoarding" of 20 per cent fuel.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Puri said consumption went up by 20 per cent following the comment.
Petrol and diesel prices hit the freeze button just as electioneering for five states including Uttar Pradesh picked up. The record 130-day freeze was despite the cost of raw material jumping from USD 81 per barrel to USD 130 per barrel.
It was anticipated that once the elections are over, state-owned fuel retailers will start adjusting the prices, which was as much as Rs 12 a litre below cost. But the rates haven't been changed even after the counting of votes ended, possibly not to give the opposition a handle before the beginning of the second half of the budget session on Monday.
