Citizens criticize fuel price hike, urged government to reconsider the decision

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government’s decision to increase the petrol/diesel prices has drawn a negative reaction from the people.

While the petrol price has been hiked by Rs. 5.85 per litre, the diesel price saw a surge of Rs. 5.43 per litre. Now a litre of petrol will cost Rs. 77.46 while diesel will be at Rs. 70.50 per litre.

The Sentinel took view of the general public regarding the decision and most of them asked the government to reconsider the decision. They stated that the hike is not justified as the lockdown has already burnt their pockets.

Nabajit Baruah, a resident of the city who is engaged in essential services stated that the price hike is a gift by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) government during the time of crisis. “Only rich people do not drive but the poor also have vehicles. If the price hike is for the loss of the revenue then the government should find another way to tackle the crisis. The price hike of Rs. 6 is a huge margin,” Baruah added.

Chandan Das, a small trader of the city added that the increase in fuel prices will lead to a surge in prices of other commodities. “We are already affected by the lockdown. The prices of essential commodities that arrive in trucks from other States will also increase. The common people will be the worst sufferers of this hike,” Das asserted. Workers of a petrol pump in GS road said that, “There is no doubt that we are incurring losses but it’s a wrong decision to hike the prices at this point of time. Especially the middle class people will suffer.”

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