Gurugram, May 23
Under the leadership of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Rao Narendra Singh, a massive protest demonstration was held in Gurugram on Friday against the continuous rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, CNG, and cooking gas. Organized by District Congress Committee Gurugram President Vardhan Yadav, the protest witnessed participation from thousands of Congress workers, women, youth, and common citizens.
During the protest, Congress workers raised strong slogans against the central government and expressed anger over rising inflation and fuel prices. The main attraction of the demonstration was a bullock cart, on which Singh led the protest march. He said that the uncontrolled rise in petrol and diesel prices has pushed the country backward instead of towards development.
Singh stated that today the common people are suffering badly due to inflation. The continuous increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, CNG, and LPG has completely disturbed the budgets of the poor, farmers, labourers, middle-class families, small traders, and ordinary households. He said that the hike in fuel prices directly impacts transportation, food items, and daily necessities, making life increasingly difficult for the common man.
Targeting the BJP government, he alleged that raising fuel prices immediately after elections has become a pattern of the BJP. He said the same trend was seen in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022, and now again in 2026. He accused BJP governments of extracting nearly ₹57 lakh crore from the pockets of the public over the last 12 years.
Singh further said that the BJP government in Haryana is also burdening the people by imposing heavy VAT on petrol and diesel. He stated that Haryana imposes 18.20% VAT on petrol, resulting in nearly ₹18 being charged per litre, while diesel attracts 16% VAT, adding an extra burden of around ₹14.50 per litre on the public. He also said that the price of CNG in Gurugram has reached ₹86.12 per kilogram, severely affecting the livelihood of auto and taxi drivers, small businessmen, salaried employees, and middle-class families.
After the protest, a Congress delegation submitted a memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble President of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Gurugram. The memorandum demanded that the central government formulate a concrete policy to control fuel prices and immediately pass on the benefit to the public whenever crude oil prices decline in the international market.
