Rahul Gandhi Invites PM Narendra Modi For Fuel Challenge After he Accepts Virat Kohli’s Fitness Challenge, Says Bring Down Petrol And Diesel Price

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising petrol and diesel prices and the fitness challenge that he has accepted. Gandhi tweeted to the Prime Minister challenging him to bring down the prices of fuel and threatening a nationwide protest if he fails to do so.

New Delhi, May 24: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over rising petrol and diesel prices and the fitness challenge that he has accepted. Gandhi tweeted to the Prime Minister challenging him to bring down the prices of fuel and threatening a nationwide protest if he fails to do so. “Dear PM, Glad to see you accept Virat Kohli’s fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response,” Gandhi tweeted today.

This came on a day when the prices of petrol and diesel touched fresh all-time highs across the country. The price of petrol in Mumbai today was Rs 85.29 per litre, 30 paise more than what it was on May 23, and the cost of diesel in the Maximum city was Rs 72.96 per litre, 20 paise more than what it was yesterday. With fuel prices going up for the eleventh continuous day, demands to cut excise duty or state VAT have grown louder. 

Dear PM,

Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me:

Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so.

I look forward to your response.#FuelChallenge

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 24, 2018

The prices of both petrol and diesel have witnessed a hike of over Rs 2 per litre over the past 10 days, both touching fresh record highs every passing day. In Delhi today, the price of petrol today was Rs 77.47 per litre while diesel was at Rs 68.53 per litre.

As protests against rising petrol and diesel prices grow louder, the government has said that it is working on finding a “long-term solutions”. “(The) issue of frequent hike in fuel price is a matter of debate and concern. The government is involved in this whole process, including the concern (about rise in prices) and also the uncertainty,” Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters on Wednesday. With geopolitical situation leading to an uncertainty over the direction of international oil prices, “a new sense of urgency has developed”, he said.

“The government is keen that instead of having an ad hoc measure, it may be desirable to have a long-term view which addresses not only the volatility but also takes care of the unnecessary ambiguity arising out of frequent ups and downs. That process is underway,” he said.

While we have nothing against accepting fitness challenge from @imVkohli . I urge you to accept the challenge to provide jobs to young, relief to farmers, promise of no violence against dalits & minorities. Would you accept my challenge @narendramodi Sir?

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 24, 2018

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, too, posted a similar tweet to PM Modi after he accepted the fitness challenge. “While we have nothing against accepting fitness challenge from Virat Kohli. I urge you to accept the challenge to provide jobs to young, relief to farmers, promise of no violence against dalits & minorities. Would you accept my challenge Narendra Modi Sir?