The Congress on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi government was spending Rs.1,000 crore in refurbishing its image at a time when the country's economy is in doldrums."The Modi government is spending Rs.1,000 crore in its marketing campaign when the country is witnessing a jobless growth," party spokesperson Sushmita Dev told the media here. She said the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are quick to remind the common man what to eat and what not to eat when their party's government is burning holes in people's pockets by increasing taxes.The Congress leader accused the Centre of failing to provide respite to the common man from inflation as it had hiked fuel prices thrice in the last 30 days. "Petrol prices have been increased by Rs 4.47 a litre and diesel prices by Rs 6.46 a litre in a month," Dev said. She said price of petrol in line with decreased international crude prices should have been Rs 25 a litre but it is Rs 65.60 a litre in Delhi. Diesel should have been Rs 21.66 a litre but is Rs 53.93 per litre.
"Crude Oil prices went down by 56.90 per cent since the Modi government took power but the benefit has not been passed on to the consumers," she said. Dev accused the government of "backstabbing farmers by raising fuel prices and the middle class by hiking service tax steeply".She accused the prime minister of following different set of rules while dealing with corruption. "Why has this government not taken action against the son of the Chhattisgarh chief minister and the daughter of Gujarat chief minister for their involvement in corruption," she asked.The Congress leader demanded BJP minister Eknath Khadse's removal for his alleged involvement in a land case in Maharashtra.She said the government must take action against its corrupt ministers than planting stories against the opposition in the media.