Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the Center over the rise in petrol prices, and said the waves of tax collection epidemic are continuously coming.
His remarks came as petrol prices in several cities crossed Rs 100 and were nearing the mark in Delhi.
"The process of unlocking has started in many states. While paying the bill at the petrol pump, you will see the rise in inflation by the Modi government. The waves of tax collection epidemic are continuously coming," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also termed the rise in petrol prices as" excessive public loot" and said the Modi government is responsible for it.
"Excessive public loot – in the last 13 months, petrol and diesel have risen by Rs 25.72 and Rs 23.93 per litre.
"In some states, petrol has crossed Rs 100 per litre. The increase in taxes by the Modi government and not high crude oil price is responsible for this rise in petrol and diesel prices," he said on Twitter.
The Congress has been critical of the government for rising prices of petrol and diesel.
The opposition party has also been demanding that petrol and diesel be brought under the purview of the GST regime.
Petrol and diesel prices were hiked again for the second consecutive day on Monday, June 7, touching fresh record highs across the country. The petrol price rose by 28 paise while that of diesel too inched up 27 paise in the national capital.
Following the latest price revision, petrol in Delhi is now retailing at Rs 95.31 a litre while diesel is selling at Rs 86.22. In the financial capital Mumbai, petrol price now stands at Rs 101.52 while diesel costs Rs 93.58, data available with Indian Oil Corporation showed.
Fuel prices have been on the rise since the past month (May 4) after oil marketing companies (OMCs) resumed their price revisions ending an 18-day hiatus that coincided with the assembly elections in key states. The prices were hiked 16 times in May and four times so far in June. During this period, petrol price has increased by Rs 4.91 per litre and diesel has climbed by Rs 5.49 in New Delhi.
