Bengaluru, September 10: BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa alleged that as the Lok Sabha election is fast approaching, the Congress leaders have been misleading the people to protect the sinking Congress by telling half truth regarding fuel price hike.
Yeddyurappa told in a press release on Monday that the Bharat bandh was a part that effort. It was not wrong to observe bandh. But the ruling parties should not support the bandh. It was a clear violation of the Supreme Court verdict. The Congress leaders have been misleading the people on fuel price hike issue, he said.
“Normally, the fuel prices are fixed internationally. During the UPA government, the fuel price was relaxed from the government control. But the Congress leaders have been hiding this fact from the people purposefully. Though the fuel price was increased by 73 percent globally in the last 14 months, in India, it was just 29.58 per cent. The one barrel crude oil is costing 79 dollar from 28 dollars. Based on this price, the fuel price will fluctuate in the market. In the international level, the USA has been trying to control over the oil producing countries and imposing restrictions against exporting more oil”, he said.
“The central government is getting Rs 6.66 from one litre of petrol and the state government would get Rs 25. Then how far it is right to passing the buck on the central government? Is it not the duty of the state government to slash the tax? The Congress is hiding all these issues”, Yeddyurappa said.
As the financial condition was sound in the Narendra Modi administration, the prices of essential commodities like pulses and household things were under control. When the Congress government was at the centre, the prices of pulses and food grains were shot up. But the Modi government has announced minimum support price to help the farmers on the one side and protecting the interests of the consumers on the other side. There was no doubt that the fuel prices would come down in the country when the price of the crude oil was stable, he said.
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Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
