Claiming the country was passing through the worst economic and inflationary phase during the UPA government's second term headed by an economist, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP on Sunday urged people to make NDA-sponsored 'Bharat Bandh' on Monday a success.
"India has been facing its worst economic and inflationary trends since the UPA government returned to power last year with the latest petroleum price hike, further aggravating inflation and hardship to the common man, BJP national spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in Patna.
Claiming that the latest petro price rise will escalate inflation of food products at 20 per cent and general inflation at 12 per cent, he asked the Centre to explain the justification for its decision in this regard.
Prasad charged the Congress with ignoring interests of common people and said NDA has decided to expose conspiracy behind the price rise and hence given the bandh call.
With the Congress slated to field its top leadership including party President Sonia Gandhi, National General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and even the prime minister in electoral turf of Bihar later this year, these leaders must explain if the "health of petroleum companies was more important that the health of the common man", BJP said.
Otherwise, what could be the rationale of petroleum prices' increase in India when these products were being sold at the rate of Rs. 22 to Rs. 36 in neighbouring countries, he asked and suggested the UPA government should slash the taxes on such products to give relief to the people. PTI
