Rise in fuel price not because of BJP: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Almost 21 opposition parties joined the Congress in protest over rising fuel prices against Narendra Modi-led NDA government in the Centre after the Congress has called for a nationwide shutdown or Bharat Bandh on Monday to protest rising fuel prices and depreciation of the rupee.

The Congress demanded that petrol and diesel should be brought under the ambit of goods and services tax (GST), by which oil prices could drop by about Rs 15 to Rs 18. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had said that the common man was bearing the burden of escalating prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.

Petrol increased to Rs 88.12 per litre and diesel at Rs 77.32 per litre (increase by Rs 0.23 per litre) in Mumbai, the day Congress called Bharat Bandh over the rise in fuel prices.

The rupee weakened to hit a fresh low of 72.64 against the US currency, strengthening the dollar and a widened current account deficit.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the problem being faced by the people because of rising fuel prices were momentary and caused by global factors.

[source_without_link]SIASAT NEWS[/source_without_link]