Zameer Ahmed blames Union government for petrol price hike in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Zameer Ahmed Khan, Minister for Housing and Minority Welfare, stated that the BJP-led NDA government was responsible for the price hike in petrol and diesel in the state. He was addressing the media in Bengaluru on Monday.
Addressing reporters, Khan said that the central government charged Rs 32.98 per liter of petrol and Rs 31.83 per liter of diesel as excise duty. He criticized BJP leaders for not raising their voices about this issue.
He highlighted that during the UPA government, excise duties on petrol and diesel were significantly lower, at Rs 9.48 and Rs 3.56 per liter, respectively. At that time, petrol was priced at Rs 68.31 per liter and diesel at Rs 48.63 per liter. Under the current BJP government, petrol prices have surged to Rs 106 per liter, despite a decrease in crude oil prices from Rs 97.68 per barrel during the UPA era to Rs 77.64 per barrel now.
Khan questioned why petrol and diesel prices have not decreased despite the lower crude oil prices. He also pointed out that during the tenure of the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka, petrol prices crossed Rs 100 per liter, and cooking gas prices soared from Rs 419 to Rs 903.
Questioning the BJP leaders' silence on the price hikes by the Union government, Zameer Ahmed challenged them to come to an open discussion on the issue.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
