Vinit Wahi / NEW DELHI
The signature campaign by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, under the leadership of its president Ajay Maken, across petrol pumps in Delhi to collect 10 lakh signatures to protest against the unprecedented rise in the prices of petrol and diesel despite a sharp fall in the prices of crude oil in the international market gained momentum on the second day today as the common people participated in the campaign with tremendous interest as the spiralling rise in the prices of petrol and diesel has broken the backs of the common people, and pushed up the prices of essential commodities.
Maken today participated in the signature campaign at several petrol pumps in East Delhi, including near Star City Mall pump, Thapar Petrol Pump, near Chilla Sports Complex, New Kondli Petrol Pump, Petrol Pump near Kerala School, Mayur Vihar Phase -3, petrol pump near Victor Public School, Preet Vihar petrol pump, Vivek Vihar petrol pump and petrol pump near Imperial Hotel.
He said India being a welfare state, the Centre and States should keep the interest of the people topmost in the mind instead of periodically pushing up excise and VAT rates on petrol and diesel. He said as a consequence, the prices of petrol and diesel have hit the roof, though the prices of crude oil in the international market has plummeted. He said the 10 lakh signatures collected through the campaign will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, demanding roll back of excise duty and VAT on petrol and diesel.
He said when the Congress-led UPA Government was in power at the Centre under the leadership of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, all efforts were made to keep the prices of petrol and diesel under check, as it was the policy of the UPA Government to keep the welfare of the common people uppermost in the mind