“The government, going by the price it is paying for international crude oil, should be selling petrol at Rs. 19.40 per litre instead of Rs. 59.03 per litre and diesel at Rs. 15.71 per litre instead of Rs. 44.18 per litre,” Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

He said that price of international crude oil was 72.21 per cent lower than what they were on May 26, 2014 when the BJP government took over and a proportionate reduction in retail prices should be transferred to the consumer.

“Profiteering at the cost of the common hapless consumer-farmer-commuter, the government has reduced the prices of diesel and petrol by a few paise today and has diabolically increased excise on petrol and diesel for the 8th consecutive time,” he said.