Karnataka should cut tax on petrol, diesel, says AAP

Bengaluru: Aam Aadmi Party volunteers staged a "Bike Tallu" protest on Wednesday at Maurya Circle demanding immediate reduction in petrol and diesel prices.

Bengaluru AAP president Mohan Dasari said that the decision by the BJP government at the Centre and State left holes in the pocket of the common man. Both Central and State governments imposed huge burden on people by resorting to fuel price hike.

He said it was outrageous that both governments raised fuel prices to an all-time high at a time when people were going through hard times in the wake of economic slowdown triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The price of crude oil last year at this time was 62 dollars. Today, it is 40 dollar but still the rate of petrol is more than ₹86. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan "I will not loot people, nor will I allow anyone to loot people" was just a sweet song and did not mean anything," said Dasari.

"Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy openly said that the government can provide petrol at ₹ 40 a litre as it costs only ₹30 to refine crude oil. There is no difference between a thief and our ruling government. Mr Narendra Modi has turned deaf and blind towards the demands of common citizens and hence we demand that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa at least reduce the State tax on petrol and diesel."

AAP State co-convener Vijay Sharma, media head Jagdish V Sadam, joint secretary Darshan Jain, Bangalore vice president Suresh Rathod, Naganna K B, State head of political activities Lakshmikant V Rao, Phaniraj S V and hundreds of volunteers of party participated in the protest.