Police detained over 40 protesters from in front of DC office in Hailakandi district of Assam while staging protest.

A two-year-old reportedly died due to random road blockade in Patna and reports have said that thousand across India have been taken under preventive detention.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad termed the Bharat Bandh, which derailed normal life in over 8 states and ended up in the death of a two-year-old in Patna, a failure. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Prasad, in a very matter-of-fact manner said, "Bharat Bandh was a failure and we regret the violence that followed (due to the shutdown)."

Complete shutdown of trade, business education sectors while government offices functioning with thin attendance. Traffic has been majorly off the road except rickshaws and two -wheelers.

Around 300 Congress leaders and supporters have been detained in Tripura while picketing outside government offices. According to SP (Operation) Subrata Chakraborty, the detainees include PCC President Birajit Sinha and senior leader Gopal Chandra Roy. Bandh in Tripura has so far been peaceful.

Almost all the shops and markets are closed. Banks are open but hardly any customers. Till the last reports, no incidents of violence have been reported.

Showing their support for the Bharat bandh called by Congress over petrol price hike, members and supporters from various political parties — AAP, RJD, Congress have blocked, not allowing even two wheelers to pass by. The supporters are protesting at different locations— staging dharna on the roads, marching around the Siwan town and adjoining areas with their parties’ flags in there hands.

Hundreds of protesters are out on the roads of Siwan district in Bihar.

Nine mail/express and passenger trains were delayed in Assam due to picketers obstructing tracks at various stations in Lumding and Tinsukia division of NF Railway. Picketers had resorted to blockade of railway tracks at Silchar between Kalkalighat and Baraigram, between Moranhat and Sibsagar Town, at Diphu, and between Nakachari and Mariani. - said P.J Sharma, Chief Public Relation Officer of NF Railway in an official bulletin.

MLAs, IAS and IPS officers were seen walking to the state secretariat and Assembly today. They were stopped on their way. PCC President Niranjan Patnaik along with party members held a dharna in front of the Assembly main gate. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reached Assembly 4 minutes late today.

Bharat Bandh and Congress MLAs protesting outside the House disrupted the state Assembly. The protesters were shouting in the House and made it impossible for the session to function. speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House till tomorrow.

They realised their mistake soon enough. After a short, awkward silence, the cadre marched on.

In Madhya Pradesh' Neemuch, Congress workers were raising slogans to support the Bharat Bandh. While the cadre shouted, "Congress zindabad, Rahul Gandhi zindabad', someone by mistake yelled out, "Rahul Gandhi murdabad".

The Odisha Congress party plans to form an investigating team likely to be headed by senior party leader Chiranjibi Biswal to probe the alleged cases of use of force in some areas of Kakatpur and Remuna areas of the state. More details will be given at the party's press conference in the state at 3pm. Party says if the members are found guilty strict actions will be taken against the guilty.

ODISHA: Congress to form investigating team to probe into use of force during Bharat Bandh

Officials have been categorically told to be alert and vigilant and ensure that miscreants don't break the law. "The state has ensure proper vigil which is why there has been no untoward incident in the state," DGP OP Singh said while briefing the media about police preparedness on Bharat Bandh.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists burn effigies of leaders of the Union government while protesting against the price hike near Jayadeva circle in Davangere.

The two-year-old, who died in Patna amid the nationwide shutdown, did not get an ambulance first and later his vehicle was stopped at two places which led to the delay. The kid had high fever since Sunday night. Senior district officers, however, have rejected the parents' claim and said the child did not die due to Bharat Bandh.

We didn't get an ambulance and then our vehicle was stopped at two places, claims 2-year-old kid's father

Ranchi police deployed drones and CCTV cameras to keep a sharp eye on troublemakers during Bharat Bandh in The district. SSP Anish Gupta himself coordinated the security forces from central control room established at district collectorate.

In Thane, buses are plying and government banks are also open. However, malls are closed as the management followed the notice sent by police and political parties on Sunday, asking them not to begin operations before 4:30 pm. Police forces are also deployed outside malls and in shopping complexes.

College students in Tripura drove an auto themselves to sit for an exam. Students from Netaji Subhash Mahavidyalaya of Udaipur city in the state were seen driving the auto to reach for an exam in their college as there were no vehicles plying due to the Bharat bandh.

Congress protesters attacked the tahsil office staff in Kakatpur block of Puri dsitrict in the presence of police. Some of the staff were injured and some fled. The tahsildar and some other staff members were working in the office, when the Congress members forcibly broke the gate and attacked staff working in the office. PCC President Niranjan Patnaik said a team has been formed to inquire the incident.

Former Congress minister Bismita Gogoi has been detained by police in Khumtai of Golaghat district in Assam during a protest, along with dozens of supporters.

Private schools and many shops remained closed. Government offices and banks, however, functioned normally. At some places, bandh supporters were seen making way for ambulances and hearses.

Arson, vandalism and disruption of rail and road traffic were reported from various parts of Bihar on Monday during the 'Bharat Bandh' called by Congress-led Opposition in protest against the soaring prices of petroleum products, reported News18. In Patna, bandh supporters indulged in vandalism in the old city area where they also burnt tyres on railway tracks, stopping movement of trains.

Fifty eight bandh supporters along with former Congress minister Basanta Das have been detained by police in Sonitpur district. The protesters tried to halt vehicles in Mission Chariali of Tezpur town in the district. The protesters have accused harassment by police during the protest.

BJP chief Amit Shah will be meeting Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid the nationwide shutdown called by Congress on Monday, reported India Today. Earlier in the day, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Narendra Modi government for failing to control the skyrocketing fuel prices. However, the BJP in a press conference said that the government is not responsible for it as "global forces are at play".

All dairies and small kiosks on the Holi gate square in Mathura were closed on Monday, reported News18. Protests were also witnessed in Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Amroha, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Etawah, Mainpuri and Kanpur.

Hundred Congress supporters, including senior leader Bhakta Charan Das, have been detained by Commissionerate Police Bhubaneswar. Das is an ex-Union minister. They were protesting near AG square in Bhubaneswar. The police said it was preventive detention.

Rajasthan minister Rajkumar Rinwa said that the public should reduce its expenses in order to tackle the fuel price rise. "The government is trying. Fuel prices in India are driven by the prices of crude oil in the world market. There is so much expenditure, floods all over, and consumption. The public doesn't understand that if the prices of crude oil increases, they should reduce their expenses," he said.

In textile capital Tiruppur, almost 2,000 factories have been shut in support of the Bharat bandh. The damage of the textile business in the city for Monday is estimated to be Rs 50 crores. Nearly the entire city has been completely shut down. Only a small number of private businesses, autos and taxis are plying on the roads and educational institutions are shut. There is heavy police deployment in the city.

At least 100 Congress activists, including Mahila Congress workers,Youth Congress president Geli Ete and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) secretary John Taksing, were arrested on Monday in Arunachal Pradesh. The protesters burnt tyres in many places in the state capital and in various other places to block roads, Superintendent of Police, Itanagar, M Harsh Vardhan said.

Former Assam minister and Congress leader Ajit Singh said the Narendra Modi government failed to fulfill all its promises made during the 2014 campiang. "Modi along with Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and other BJP leaders protested against price rise in the past. But now they are silent which shows how fake their protests were. Today common people have have supported our bandh. They are angry, and the Modi government will get the answer in upcoming elections," he said.

A total of 8,234 protesters, including many senior leaders from the mahagathbandhan, were taken into preventive detention till 2 pm, according to Jharkhand Police. The bandh was particularly successful in Santal pargana which is dominated by JMM and JVM(P) where 2,668 political workers were arrested and in Kolhan region including Jamshedpur where 1,363 protestors were detained.

According to India Today, protesters part of the Bharat Bandh on Monday vandalised a school bus in Pune.

Union minister Jual Oram said Bharat Bandh by Congress is a failure. "People of Odisha have not supported this," he said.

The Bharat Bandh called by the Congress in protest against the hike in the fuel price evoked a mixed response in Uttara Kannada district. The government had closed schools and colleges and had withdrawn buses in some places. In Karwar, shops remained closed but the government offices and financial institutions like banks and insurance offices functioned normally. Auto rickshaws unions had not supported the bandh call. Congress workers led by Satish Sail took out a bike rally asking shop-owners to down the shutters. People were seen blaming the KSRTC authorities for withdrawing the city buses without any provocation.

Sathish Sail, former Congress MLA, said that the bandh is the expression of the anger of the people against Modi government’s anti-poor policy. But BJP criticised the state government for becoming a party to the bandh by withdrawing buses and closing educational institutions. "What was the necessity of withdrawing the buses when the ruling coalition had called the bandh? It shows there are anti-social elements in those parties and their own party leaders have no faith in their workers," district spokesperson Rajesh Nayak criticised.

In Sirsi the bandh was partially followed and auto-rickshaws plied on the roads as usual. In Ankola, miscreants were seen imposing the bandh. They ransacked a sweet mart and a spectacle shop in the town. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district barring some stray incidents.

" When we were peacefully protesting in Royalwood road around 10 am, Santanu Pujari came alongwith a group of protesters and started physically assualting the protesters and tried to open the closed shops. While I was video recording the incident, he snatched my mobile phone and deleted the videos. When I asked my mobile phone back he started touching me inappropriately and assulted me," the victim said.

A complaint has been filed in Jorhat Police Station of Assam against BJP district president of Jorhat, ​Santanu Pujari, for allegedly molesting a female bandh supporter.

Locals in Golakganj of Dhubri, the border district along Bangladesh in Assam, used a deserted road to play cricket during the total shutdown in view of Bharat Bandh.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced that the petrol and diesel prices in the state will be brought down by Rs 2 each, ANI reported. The new rates will come into effect from Tuesday morning.

A peon locked an officer in Dhenkanal collector office on Monday. As per the information, district sports officer Pradeep Kumar Mohanty was working in his office along with one other staff. The peon named as Sumant thought there is no one in office, as it is Bharat Bandh. He locked the office and left for home. The officer informed a local journalist about this. An hour later, the peon came back and opened the door.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah told ANI: "If you listen to the 2012 speeches of those in power today, they were shouting about petrol and diesel prices. Today, the prices are surpassing prices of that time; rupee has weakened against dollar. We are in trouble."

"Until Modi government brings fuel price under GST or reduce VAT, Congress will continue this people's movement," he said.

Targetting the NDA government over the high petrol and diesel prices, Congress said that VAT on petrol in Madhya Pradesh is 35.80 percent. "Is this high taxation due to global reasons," party spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala asked.

"People willingly participated in the bandh against the government. At least now, the government should reduce prices, but they are not worried at all. So, we all need to save democracy. It is in danger."

Speaking at a press conference, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said, "Today’s Bharat Bandh has been successful across the country. Congress party has never held Bharat Bandh before, we don’t even believe in Bharat Bandh, but since the time Modi government has come to power, there has been a situation that led to this.

Clash between Congress and BJP supporters in Assam's Karimganj district during Bharat bandh. In Katamoni area of the district, which falls under Bajarichora Police Station, both the groups came out on street with sticks and started assaulting each other. Several supporters from both the party have reportedly sustained injuries. Police has detained the supporters engaged in the clash.

About 75,000 fishermen across Kanyakumari have not gone to sea today to show their support for the bandh and their concerns about rising diesel prices. Across its major fishing villages like Muttam and Colachel, 2,500 mechanised boats and 8,000 smaller fishing boats stayed tethered. In Thengapattanam, fishermen protested aboard their boat, raising slogans against the Centre.

One of the policemen in the video is seen arguing with a Congress worker for creating ruckus, presumably because the trader's association had already made the announcement. The Congress worker is seen replying, "We own the trader's association."

The Tamil Nadu Traders' Federation had announced this morning that since Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner, they will not support the bandh. They will instead protest the high fuel prices in Delhi on 28 September.

In Thoothukudi, most commercial establishments are shut. Congress workers have been going around the city asking shops to down their shutters. While conducting such an exercise with the shops around Anna Bus Stand, party workers got into a heated argument with a shop owner who refused to shut shop. One of the Congress workers is seen telling the policemen that someone had come at them with an 'aruwaal' (traditional Tamil machete).

A team comprising four senior party leaders will be formed to enquire about any incidents of unruly behaviour by any alleged Congress party workers during the Bharat Bandh in Odisha. "If found guilty they will face the music," says Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said. He also added that he suspected some people who were not belonging to the party took advantage of the situation and caused trouble in the name of the party.

ODISHA: Congress to setup team to look into incidents of unruly behaviour by party cadres

Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the it was unfortunate that the bandh had taken a violent turn. "We had appealed for a peaceful bandh. We do not believe in violence," he said.

Speaking at the Congress press conference, party spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said that the culprits involved in violent incidents must be brought to book. "No congress worker will ever obstruct an ambulance," he said.

​Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot said that the Bharat Bandh's success highlights how the BJP-led government has not fulfilled its promises to the people of India. "The country was misled by lies that fuel prices will go down — but nothing happened. Only politics was discussed at the national executive meet," he said.

The AIADMK condemns this price rise and wants price regulation to be brought back under government purview, he said. But they will not be supporting this bandh alongside the likes of DMK who is two-faced. "They want to keep the Congress on their side but also want to work with the BJP," he said.

Speaking to reporters outside the Chennai airport on Monday morning, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIADMK MP Thambidurai M said that bandhs by the Opposition are common, but Congress leading this particular bandh is disingenuous. It was under Congress rule in the Centre that the authority to regulate oil prices in the country was handed over to private companies, he said. "This has hurt the public while profiting private players. The current government at the Centre is only following previously set down plans."

In Salem district, members of the Opposition parties took out a funeral procession for their motorbike in a symbolic protest against the fuel price rise. DMK district in-charge Veerapandi Raja led the procession, in which leaders from Congress — Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi — and other parties participated.

Raut asserted it was the Shiv Sena's own decision to not take part in the "Bharat Bandh" and its stand had nothing to do with the BJP. "No BJP leader has asked the Shiv Sena to stay away from the bandh. Its our own decision," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dismissed talks of senior BJP leaders asking his party to stay away from the nationwide bandh called by the Congress to protest the rising prices of fuel.

No BJP role in our decision to stay away from bandh: Shiv Sena

"The sole purpose of the bandh was to use the opportunity for photo-op and make news. The bandh affected nearly five lakh daily wage labourers because of disruption caused by troublemakers, 6000 of them in Ranchi alone. While opposition party workers engaged in acts of vandalism in state, JVM(P) head shri Babulal Marandi and JMM president shri Hemant Soren were in Delhi to share dais with India's Gandhi family instead of reining in their party cadre. This shows their priorities and how serious they are about public welfare," Shahdeo said.

In a press conference called at state BJP headquarters in Ranchi, party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo slammed Opposition parties for playing disruptive politics and claimed that Bharat Bandh had no popular support in Jharkhand.

Bharat Bandh LATEST updates: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut dismissed talks of senior BJP leaders asking his party to stay away from the nationwide bandh called by the Congress to protest the rising prices of fuel.



About 75,000 fishermen across Kanyakumari have not gone to sea today to show their support for the bandh and their concerns about rising diesel prices. Across its major fishing villages like Muttam and Colachel, 2,500 mechanised boats and 8,000 smaller fishing boats stayed tethered. In Thengapattanam, fishermen protested aboard their boat, raising slogans against the Centre.

Targetting the NDA government over the high petrol and diesel prices, Congress said that VAT on petrol in Madhya Pradesh is 35.80 percent. "Is this high taxation due to global reasons," party spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala asked

A complaint has been filed in Jorhat Police Station of Assam against BJP district president of Jorhat, ​Santanu Pujari, for allegedly molesting a female bandh supporter.

At least 100 Congress activists, including Mahila Congress workers,Youth Congress president Geli Ete and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) secretary John Taksing, were arrested on Monday in Arunachal Pradesh.

In textile capital Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, almost 2,000 factories have been shut in support of the Bharat bandh. The damage of the textile business in the city for Monday is estimated to be Rs 50 crores. Nearly the entire city has been completely shut down. Only a small number of private businesses, autos and taxis are plying on the roads and educational institutions are shut. There is heavy police deployment in the city.

BJP chief Amit Shah will be meeting Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid the nationwide shutdown called by Congress on Monday, according to a report. Earlier in the day, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Narendra Modi government for failing to control the skyrocketing fuel prices. However, the BJP in a press conference said that the government is not responsible for it as "global forces are at play".

Congress protesters attacked the tahsil office staff in Kakatpur block of Puri district in the presence of police. Some of the staff were injured and some fled. The tahsildar and some other staff members were working in the office, when the Congress members forcibly broke the gate and attacked staff working in the office.

The two-year-old, who died in Patna amid the nationwide shutdown, did not get an ambulance first and later his vehicle was stopped at two places which led to the delay. The kid had high fever since Sunday night. Senior district officers, however, have rejected the parents' claim and said the child did not die due to Bharat Bandh. The father Pramod Jha hails from Balabeegha village which falls under Makhdumpur police station in Jehanabad district.

In Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch, Congress workers were raising slogans to support the Bharat Bandh. While the cadre shouted, "Congress zindabad, Rahul Gandhi zindabad', someone by mistake yelled out, "Rahul Gandhi murdabad". They realised their mistake soon enough. After a short, awkward silence, the cadre marched on.

Addressing a press conference after a child's death was reported in Bihar, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the Congress for lacking sensitivity and responsibility. The party alleged that the death of the child was Congress' onus. "Bharat Bandh was a failure and we regret for the violence."

Speaking about hike in prices of fuel, Prasad that the reasons of this price hike was due to non-availability and limited supply of petroleum. "We welcome purposeful argument but the reasons for hike in price not under the control of the government. It is upto the oil producing countries and several geo-political factors." "Congress is creating atmosphere of fear."

A two-year-old child has reportedly died due to delay in receiving treatment in Bihar's Patna. Reports have said that due to road blockades the parents were not able to reach the hospital in time. The father of the child believes that if the roads were clear, his child would still be alive today.

Leading the Congress march in New Delhi and spearheading the nationwide Bharat Bandh, Rahul Gandhi addressed the workers and slammed the Narendra Modi government for lacking empathy for the poor. Slamming the ruling government over price hike, Rahul said, "Gas Cylinder that used to cost Rs 400 is now Rs 800. Modiji said that what didn't happen in 70 years, we will do in 4 years. Wherever he goes, he just goes to sow division."

Reiterating his point on BJP supporting industrialists, Rahul said, "India is tired of Narendra Modi. He does not care for farmers or the poor, he cares for section of industrialists." Turning his attention towards the media, Rahul retorted and said that, "I know you guys (the media) are living under the fear of writing the truth. But don't worry, the nation stands with you."

Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan was also arrested along with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Monday morning at the Andheri railway station. The duo have reportedly been taken to DN Nagar police station. Chavan, earlier, was part of the rail roko at the Andheri station.

The shutdown strike affected relief activities in the flood devastated areas in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts in Kerala. Though the district administration in Ernakulam had directed all employees to attend office, the attendance was very thin in Aluva and Paravur areas, which were devastated by the flood.

Over 5,000 police personnel have been deployed around Chennai to maintain peace during the bandh, with special focus on the central government buildings.

While the Nationalist Congress Party and Maharashtra Navanirman Sena in the state have extended their support to the Bharat bandh called by Congress, the BJP ally Shiv Sena will not be participating in the shutdown but will look at it "neutrally".

After his arrival at the Rajghat, the Congress president, along with other Opposition leaders, is now marching towards the Ramlila Maidan. The Bharat bandh has been called by the party to protest against the skyrocketing fuel prices.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly joined the protests at Rajghat, where other top Congress leaders including Ashok Gehlot, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Abhishek Manu Singhvi arrived earlier. Reports also suggested that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh will also join the stir later.

Hundreds of passengers are stranded at Bhubaneswar's Baramunda bus stand. Several running trucks and buses were stopped by Congress party workers on their way on the roads to mark the Bharat bandh on Monday in Odisha.

Top Congress leaders such as Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ashok Gehlot, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi led the Bharat bandh at Rajghat in New Delhi and said the Narendra Modi government was "all about jumlas". Meanwhile, five people were detained after Congress and Left supporters tried to stop Agniveena Express at Durgapur (West Bengal). They were chased away by the local police and Government Railway Police.

In view of the Bharat bandh, nearly 15,000 policemen have been deployed across West Bengal, according to News18. The state government issued a circular saying that government employees' one day's salary will be deducted if they failed to turn up at their respective office.

Bus services of North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) will remain non-operational on Monday due to the Bharat bandh called by Congress and other Opposition parties against fuel price hike.

Petrol prices on Monday increased to Rs 80.73/litre per litre in Delhi. Diesel rate touched its highest level of Rs 72.83 a litre. In Mumbai, petrol is at Rs 88.12/litre (increase by Rs 0.23/litre) and diesel at Rs 77.32/litre (increase by Rs 0.23/litre).

A number of Opposition parties will unitedly protest the rise in fuel prices in the country on Monday and participate in the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Congress. Top Opposition party leaders such as Sharad Pawar, MK Stalin and Left leaders have openly extended their support for the call for shut down, while the Trinamool Congress has decided to stay away from the protest.

The Karnataka government has declared a public holiday for all schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure, ANI reported.

#Correction: #Karnataka Government declares public holiday for tomorrow for schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure ahead of #BharatBandh tomorrow. (Original tweet will be deleted) https://t.co/oaStT7d55a — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2018

The ruling TMC in West Bengal has expressed support on the issues on which the shut down has been called, but said it was against any kind of strike in the state according to the stated policy of party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Narendra Modi government has "looted" Rs 11 lakh crore from the people of the country in the last 52 months and was running a "profiteering company" rather than a government. The way gas, diesel and petrol prices are increasing every day, it has caused great distress to farmers, he said.

"We demand that petrol and diesel be brought under the ambit of the GST. High prices of petrol and diesel found no mention in the BJP's national executive meeting because they are not bothered about the pain of public," Surjewala said. He also urged people to bring about a change in the country by ousting the BJP from power.

Earlier, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken said 21 Opposition parties are supporting the Bharat Bandh, besides a number of chambers of commerce and traders' associations.

"DMK will extend complete support to the Bharat Bandh call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol and diesel. I urge the people and party cadre to make the bandh on 10 September a big success," Stalin has said. In view of the bandh call, Congress has urged party workers not to indulge in any violent protest.

"I appeal to all Congress workers to make the bandh violence-free. We are Mahatma Gandhi's party and we should not associate ourselves with any violence," Maken said a media briefing.

Petrol and diesel prices set new records on Sunday. According to the price notification issued by state fuel retailers, petrol price was raised by 12 paise a litre and diesel by 10 paise per litre on Sunday.

Holding the BJP government responsible for the rise in petrol and diesel prices, Maken alleged that it kept on raising excise duty on fuel even as international crude oil prices have come down. "Between 2014 and now, excise duty on petrol has risen by 211.7 percent and 433 percent on diesel. The excise duty on petrol was Rs 9.2 per litre in 2014 and it has gone up to Rs 19.48 per litre. Similarly, the excise duty on diesel was Rs 3.46 per litre and today it stands at Rs 15.33 per litre," he said.

Maken said that he was "pained" to see that BJP's national executive meeting remained silent on the rising crude oil price issue and has not held any discussions on inflation or rupee depreciation, matters which are directly linked with the common man. "I am pained that the meeting did not discuss a solution to these issues," he said. Maken alleged the economic progress and GDP growth rate, which the UPA government maintained, has been squandered by the present dispensation.

"During our rule, Narendra Modi criticised the rising oil prices saying it has gone into ICU. What would they say now?" he asked. Hitting out at the BJP for attacking the Congress with the 'breaking India' barb, Maken alleged the government has stalled the Make in India initiative as 109 Rafale jets could have been manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a PSU. He also said the government has not yielded to the Opposition's demand for a Join Parliamentary Committee probe into the alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal.

With inputs from PTI

Updated Date: September 10, 2018 18:49:46 IST

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