VASCO
Around 100 motorcycle pilots and rickshaw drivers in the port town were lucky to be offered fuel at a subsidised rate of Rs 50 per litre on Wednesday morning as a part of a Congress agitation led by GPCC Vice President Sankalp Amonkar to protest against rising fuel prices in the country.
Many Congress workers gathered during the agitation near the Joshi Petrol pump at Vasco and offered the fuel to motorcycle pilots and rickshaw drivers at a discounted rates of Rs 50 per litre.
While the pilots and rickshaw owners appreciated the gesture of Congress, they also hit out at the State and Central governments for not considering the plight of small businesses which were severely affected by the rise in fuel prices.
Later speaking to reporters, Amonkar hit out at the State and Central governments for the steep rise in fuel prices and demanded the reduction in steep taxes imposed on fuel that had led to a hike in fuel rates.
"While the UPA government was in power at the Centre, the price of crude oil was at around 100 USD and the petrol price was at around Rs 60. However, the price of a crude oil barrel is presently half the price at around 50 USD and yet, the price of petrol is around Rs 83 in Goa and over Rs 90 elsewhere in the country," said Amonkar.
"While the fuel tax was at Rs 3 during the UPA government, the tax imposed now is ten times more at Rs 30, which has led to the price hike. We demand that the government reduce this tax so that fuel prices reduce,” said Amonkar.
He claimed that several motorcycle pilots and rickshaw owners have been badly hit due to the lockdown and this fuel rise has further ruined their lives.
“A person working for a private company may be forced to spend around 25% of his salary on fuel," said Amonkar.
"The government has not considered the common man in its budget and the price rise will have a cascading effect and all products, including vegetables, milk products and groceries,” he said.
Did not offer fuel at subsidised rates, says Vasco fuel dealer
VASCO: Paresh Joshi of Auto Service Petrol Pump, where the Congress had staged a protest and offered fuel to 100 motorcycle pilots and auto-rickshaw owners at a subsidised rate of Rs 50 per litre, has clarified that the petrol pump had not offered the fuel at subsidised rates.
In a press statement, Joshi informed the public and their customers that a campaign had been organised by a group at their petrol pump along F L Gomes Road on Wednesday, without any information to us.
“Our pump attendants delivered demanded fuel against full receipt of today's price. Thereafter, it was reported to our employees by some of these customers that fuel was given to them by the group at a price much lower than today's selling price.”
“We clarify that the campaign was carried out without our knowledge. We have received full selling price per litre as charged to all our regular customers. We did not know who this group was. We do not have any connection, relationship or involvement with this group or the campaign," said Joshi.
