Bengaluru, May 25 (PTI) The ruling Congress in Karnataka on Monday accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of "fuel loot" and demanded a rollback of the fuel price hike.

Addressing a joint press conference, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar questioned why the Centre is raising the price of petrol and diesel when the price of crude oil is going down.

Petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks as state-owned fuel retailers continued to pass on rising international oil prices to consumers.

Surjewala said that petrol crossed Rs 110 for the first time in Bengaluru after 78 years of independence.

Hitting out at the Centre, he said, "There has been Rs 57 lakh crore loot by the BJP in the last 12 years. Every day, fuel loot is pickpocketing the pockets of common man, the common Kannadiga. The last 11 days have been catastrophic on the pockets and budget of the salaried class, farmers, businessmen, homemakers, small businessmen and common persons." "The Centre is raising the price of petrol and diesel four times in 11 days, touching Rs 7.52 paise a liter. This backbreaking fleecing and defrauding of Kannadigas by the BJP is unpardonable," he added.

The AICC general secretary further said, "Perhaps it was a return gift to Kannadigas by BJP president Nitin Naveen, who came and ate nice things over breakfast yesterday (in Bengaluru)." Surjewala said, on 23 May, the Modi government collected Rs 2.87 lakh crore from the RBI by making it sell precious "Foreign Exchange Reserves" by taking advantage of the nosedive in the value of the Indian Rupee against the Dollar.

In the last 12 years, the Centre has collected Rs 14 lakh crore from the RBI, he said.

Over the last 12 years, it has collected Rs 43 lakh crore by taxing petrol and diesel. "This comes to Rs 1,000 crore every single day since 2014," he added.

The Congress leader further asked the Centre, "As crude oil prices fall, what is the justification for a fourth-time increase today? When the price of crude oil is going down, why are you raising the price of petrol and diesel." "The price of crude oil during the Congress government between 2004 and 2014 was USD 108 per barrel. The price of crude oil averaged for the last 12 years is USD 70 a barrel. It is USD 38 a barrel cheaper. Even today, the price of crude oil is USD 98.6 a barrel," he said.

Questioning if there is any justification for hike in prices, Surjewala said, "There is no justification, so rollback the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG gas, domestic gas, commercial gas, and CNG. This is the only way forward. Otherwise, Kannadiga's brothers and sisters will not pardon you." Targeting the government at the Centre over fuel price hike, Siddaramaiah said when PM Modi came to power, he promised that "good days" would come. "They (BJP) have deceived the people of this country..." After these four hikes, the price of petrol in Bengaluru is now around Rs 110 per litre. Never before had petrol and diesel prices reached such levels. "Diesel in Bengaluru is now Rs 98.89. It may soon touch Rs 100," he said.

People should understand how Modi's government has looted the country after coming to power. "We must also spread awareness among the people," the CM said.

Comparing fuel prices with that under UPA government regime under then PM Manmohan Singh when crude oil prices were high, he said, "Even when crude oil prices fell to around USD 65–70 per barrel, the benefit was not passed on to consumers by the current NDA government. Even now crude oil prices are below USD 100, yet petrol prices have been increased repeatedly." "What happens because of this? Inflation rises. When petrol and diesel prices increase, farmers suffer, and ordinary people suffer. The Modi's government today is looting the country and robbing common people," he added.

Deputy CM Shivakumar also targeted the central government for the price rise, and said, on May 30, the Congress will hold protests in all district centres of the state, followed by protests at assembly segments.

He also hit out at state BJP leaders for demanding the state government to cut taxes on petrol and diesel in Karnataka.

"You (BJP leaders) should ask the central government to reduce prices first," he said. PTI KSU KH