Global oil rates dip but no good news for aam admi: Cong

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of profiteering by "mercilessly" imposing taxes on petrol and diesel, and demanded that the Narendra Modi government pass on the benefits of a fall in the international crude oil prices to people to provide relief to them from the "back-breaking inflation".

Congress general secretary (in charge, communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Centre can give relief to people from the rising prices if it wants to by cutting the petrol and diesel rates by Rs 25-30 per litre through lowering the taxe.

"Our demand is that the Modi government should reduce the prices of petrol and diesel by 35 per cent, in line with the huge reduction in the international crude oil prices, and give the benefits of the record fall in the international crude oil prices to the people," he said.

Crude oil has become 35 per cent cheaper over the last one year, but the prices of petrol and diesel have not been reduced, he claimed.

The Congress leader claimed that the Centre has collected more than Rs 32 lakh crore from the public in the last nine years by repeatedly increasing the taxes on petrol and diesel. (PTI)