“The Fuel Price Hike does not affect me, I am a minister, I get fuel for free, but yes the people are suffering and the government is trying to bring down the price of fuel,” said Union Minister and Republican Part of India (A) leader Ramdas Athawale on Saturday, September 15. The minister’s insensitive comment came on a day when Mumbai, capital of the minister’s home state of Maharashtra, saw petrol hit a record ₹89 per litre.