Petrol price touches new high; Rs 85.29 in Mumbai, Rs 77.47 in Delhi

The prices of petrol and diesel continued to skyrocket on the 11^th straight day and touched an all-time high on Thursday. In Mumbai, the petrol was being sold at Rs 85.29 per litre, while in Delhi the price rose to a new record of Rs 77.47 per litre.

The diesel also breached all records and touched a new high of Rs 72.96 per litre in Mumbai and Rs 68.53 in national capital.

Meanwhile, the Modi government, which came in power with the promise of cheap fuel prices among many others, seems to have given up to the “fuel crisis” prevailing in the country.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that the rise in the fuel prices was “unavoidable” and subsidising petrol and diesel will take away the money from social welfare schemes.

“This is an unavoidable, economic situation. It is directly linked to the global economy. If we have to sell it (petrol/diesel) cheap, it means we will have to buy it at higher prices and subsidise it here,” the Indian Express quoted Gadkari as saying.

Congress takes horse-carriage ride to protest rising fuel prices

To protest the skyrocketing fuel prices, members of the opposition Congress on Thursday travelled in a horse-drawn carriage in the Panaji city of Goa. During the protest, which lasted for about an hour, the Congress members went around the district collectorate in the horse carriage.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee chief Girish Chodankar, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar, former chief minister Digambar Kamat, Congress legislative party spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco were some of the leaders who took a ride in the carriage.