New Delhi: Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan received flak on the social media for defending spike in fuel prices by tweeting that petrol prices in developed countries Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, UK, Germany and France were much higher than in India.
“In 68 countries including Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, UK, Germany and France, price of petrol is much higher than in India,” tweeted the minister.
Twitterati was quick to point to the Union Cabinet minister that per capita income (average income earned per person) of these developed countries was much higher that India. “Sir purchasing power of India is much lower compared to the ones you have quoted,” said one tweeter.
“It shows sheer arrogance that you compare with developed countries with great public transport where you might not need to own a car,” said another tweeter.
“And remember they hauled the UPA over coals when there was still some control from the Govt end,” replied one more tweeter.
The government is under tremendous political pressure as fuel prices are hovering around 3-year high in some parts of the country despite crude oil prices nearly half of what they were in 2014.
While petrol prices have increased by Rs 7.32 to reach Rs 70.38 a litre in Delhi since July, the highest since August 2014, diesel rates have risen by Rs 5.36 to Rs 58.72.
