Fuel prices may rise after Bengal polls, says Abhishek Banerjee
Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the Centre may hike LPG and fuel prices after the West Bengal assembly elections. He criticised the BJP government over rising costs, welfare issues and claimed the TMC would continue its social schemes if re-elected
Kolkata: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday said there is a strong possibility that the BJP-led central government will increase the prices of cooking gas and transport fuel after the assembly elections are over on April 29.
Addressing an election campaign rally for the TMC candidate in Binpur assembly constituency in Jhargram district, Birbaha Hansda, Banerjee also accused the Narendra Modi government of not taking necessary steps to address the aggravating fuel crisis in West Bengal.
The TMC general secretary dared Modi and his ministers to make a promise at their election meetings that there would be no hike in the prices of LPG, petrol and diesel over the next five years.
“Rest assured, they (BJP) will not make any such pledge. Instead, once the election phase is over, take my word that on April 30, there is a strong possibility they will make domestic LPG cost Rs 2,000 and petrol and diesel Rs 200 per litre,” the Diamond Harbour MP said.
Banerjee, the de facto number two in the TMC, said that in 12 years of its tenure since 2014, the BJP has hiked LPG price from Rs 400 per cylinder to Rs 1,000.
“The BJP is not concerned about the plight of the common man. The Modi government only knows how to fool the people with false promises,” he claimed.
Charging the Modi government with taking anti-people steps that caused undue harassment to lakhs of citizens, he said, “The BJP forced people to stand for hours in queues before LPG agencies, before banks during demonetisation and in SIR camps.” Alleging that the BJP government has been withholding Rs 1 lakh crore meant for West Bengal as political vendetta, he asserted that despite that, the TMC administration managed to run housing, piped drinking water and 100 days work projects with its own resources.
“Once we return to power, the target to supply piped drinking water to every household will be met. Old age pension will be given to every elderly citizen in six months. Unlike the BJP, we never fail to deliver,” he said.
Banerjee came down heavily on the BJP for allegedly spreading rumours that the women’s financial assistance scheme ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ will be stopped by the Mamata Banerjee government if the TMC returns to power for a fourth term.
“In 2021, our CM had promised Lakshmir Bhandar, and the project has been expanded by including every woman in a household and increasing the amount. By the first or second day of every month, the money enters the bank account of every deserving person,” he said.
Beneficiaries of other schemes are also receiving the money regularly, the MP said.
“We will continue with the schemes and not withdraw them, unlike the BJP governments, which go back on their electoral promises once the votes are over,” he claimed.
The TMC leader alleged that the BJP treats opposition leaders with disdain.
“During a demonstration in Delhi against the Centre demanding the state’s dues, our MPs, MLAs and ministers were dragged and pushed by the Delhi Police into vehicles. Women and representatives from backward castes and tribal leaders were also not spared. The BJP should not talk about democracy,” Banerjee said at the rally.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
