Uttar Pradesh State Minister Upendra Tiwari seems to have upended the debate on rising fuel prices in India, as he said today that ’95 percent of Indians do not need petrol.’
Speaking to the media at Jalaun in western Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Tiwari accused the Opposition of not being able to find any issues to discuss.
Mr. Tiwari added more grist to the mill, saying ‘there are now a handful of people who use four-wheelers and need petrol.’
These statements were followed by customary whataboutery that has become de riguer for the current dispensation in the face of any questioning or critique.
“You take figures from before 2014 and now. The per capita income has more than doubled after Modiji’s and Yogiji’s governments were formed,” said the state minister.
This was followed with more seemingly bizarre equations, with the recent and admittedly commendable inoculation milestone of 100 crore achieved. How that is related to fuel prices begs questioning, however.
“The government has given free vaccines to more than 100 crore people. It has given free COVID treatment. Medicines are being distributed from door to door,” said the minister.
Earlier too, ministers and leaders of the BJP have spoken about the government providing free COVID vaccines, when confronted with questions on the consistent hike in fuel prices.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli attempted to rationalize the same, earlier this month that the money for the free vaccines comes from the taxes that the central government collects. “Fuel prices aren’t high but include the tax levied. You must’ve taken a free vaccine, where will the money come from? You haven’t paid the money, this is how it was collected,” he said.
As India reels from the aftershocks of the pandemic waves, people in Mr. Tiwari’s state capital of Lucknow paid ? 103.18 for each litre of petrol. Prices in the metro cities have increased even higher to record highs, with Mumbai shelling out at ? 112.44 per litre for petrol and ? 103.26 for diesel, to fill their tanks.
Besides burning a hole in the pockets of people, the sharp hike in fuel prices has also pushed up commodity prices due to high transport costs.
Speaking in Jalaun, Mr Tiwari listed the government’s initiatives in healthcare, education and other sectors. “Muft mein dawai, muft mein padhai, muft mein sinchai, muft mein kadhai,” he said.
“Taking this into account and in comparison to other states, fuel prices in Uttar Pradesh and the country have seen only a slim hike,” he said.
“If we compare it to per capita income, prices of petrol and diesel are very low,” he said in reply to another query.