No Role Of Assembly Elections In Fuel Price Rise: FM Sitharaman

Mumbai: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected opposition allegations that the government is increasing fuel price as the Assembly elections are over and said “it has nothing to do with election time”.

She also referred to the Russo-Ukraine conflict and said that while former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s claim about the Korean War affecting India’s inflation is acceptable, the same cannot be said for the current situation.

“Even in 1951, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru could say that the Korean War could affect Indian inflation… But if today in a globally connected world, we say that Ukraine (war) is affecting us, it is not accepted,” Sitharaman said replying to a debate on the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha.

She rejected the opposition’s argument that the hike in fuel prices was linked to the culmination of assembly elections in five states or that the government was willing to hike prices.

“We have not brought any additional burden. The global situation, the war-like situation is not the time we are looking at the race. It has nothing to do with election time. If the oil market companies think that they are procuring a 15-day average at a higher rate, obviously we will have to bear.”

She said the war in Ukraine has affected all countries, especially crude oil, by disrupting supply chains.

“We as a government, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly believe in reducing taxes and bringing less burden on common people. We are doing this consistently and successfully,” said the Finance Minister.

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