Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Friday strongly condemned the BJP-led Central Government over the steep increase in diesel, petrol and CNG prices, calling the move anti-national, anti-Punjab and outright anti-farmer. Addressing a press conference alongside AAP leader Prabhvir Brar, AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the Narendra Modi-led government has once again delivered a massive inflation shock to the people of the country and exposed its anti-people mindset by pushing common citizens, farmers and labourers deeper into financial distress. “The timing of the diesel price hike has made the situation even more painful for Punjab’s farmers, as paddy sowing has already begun across the country, especially in Punjab,” he added.
The AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson stated that under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has ensured canal water facilities for farmers, while paddy transplantation will begin in full swing from June 1. “Farmers are already working day and night preparing their fields for the next crop after completing wheat harvesting and straw management.
In such a crucial period, increasing diesel prices by ₹3.11 per litre is nothing short of a betrayal of Punjab’s farmers and a direct attack on their livelihood,” he asserted. Questioning the intentions of the BJP and PM Modi, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the Modi government has continuously targeted Punjab and its farmers ever since it was forced to repeal the three black farm laws following the historic farmers’ movement.
“The Centre is still trying to settle political scores with Punjab by repeatedly burdening farmers and labourers through anti-people decisions,” he added. Referring to the withholding of Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the latest fuel price hike, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal stated, “The BJP Government has once again imposed an unbearable financial burden on the farming community.
Since Punjab feeds the nation, the impact of this diesel price hike will hit Punjab’s farmers the hardest.” Speaking on the Central Government’s foreign and trade policies, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that when the US-India trade deal was signed on February 26 this year, the AAP was the first political party in the country to strongly oppose the agreement through a press conference.
“On the very same day, I had warned that PM Modi bowing before the United States would eventually harm the country’s interests,” he added. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal pointed out that India’s trusted ally Russia had been supplying crude oil at highly affordable rates ranging between $35 and $50 per barrel, rates that China continues to benefit from even today.
However, he said that under pressure from the United States, the Modi government stopped purchasing Russian oil, the consequences of which are now being suffered by the people of the country through soaring fuel prices and inflation. Taking a dig at Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “Sunil Jakhar and Company, who until yesterday were busy defending the Central Government, must now explain to the people what kind of justice this is.”
He further stated that the Centre had insulted farmers just two days ago by announcing a meagre increase of only 72 paise per kilogram in the MSP of paddy, an amount too insignificant to match the rising cost of cultivation. “On one hand, the BJP Government increased MSP by merely 72 paise per kilogram, and on the other hand, it increased diesel prices by ₹3.11 per litre, putting an even heavier burden on farmers,” added Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.
He said experts from Punjab Agricultural University should be consulted to understand the actual cost of paddy cultivation. “Rice is sold in the market at prices ranging from ₹50 to ₹200 per kilogram, while farmers have effectively been offered just a 72-paise increase,” he remarked.
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal warned that the diesel price hike would not only affect farmers but also severely impact ordinary citizens across the country. He said that increased transportation and freight costs would trigger a sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities and food items, further burdening households already struggling with inflation.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that while people are being advised to reduce car usage, rely on motorcycles and bicycles and cut fuel consumption, the Prime Minister himself has pushed the country deeper into inflation before leaving on foreign tours in government aircraft.
“The AAP strongly condemns this anti-people decision of the Central Government and demands its immediate rollback,” concluded Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.