Will ensure no fuel shortage in country: Hardeep Singh Puri
Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 Mar, 2022 03:01 PM
New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Amid speculation that petrol prices will increase after the Assembly elections in five states, Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that it will be ensured that the country does not face a fuel shortage.
Addressing a press conference here, Puri reminded how the Congress party had deregulated petroleum prices during its reign.
Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had attacked the government over the issue, saying, "Get petrol tanks filled immediately. Modi government's offer is about to end."
Puri said civic elections are scheduled to be held in many states of the country in October.
From March 1, prices of commercial LPG cylinder rose by Rs 105. The hike in the prices of commercial cylinders is adversely affecting hotel and restaurant owners. A commercial LPG cylinder weighing 19 kg, which earlier cost Rs 1,907, is now selling at Rs 2,012.
Speculation is rife that after the elections in the five states are over, prices of domestic LPG, diesel and petrol may witness an increase.
As per recently released reports, after the completion of the poll process, petrol and diesel prices, which have remained unchanged since Diwali, may be increased by Rs 15 to Rs 22 per litre.
The price of crude oil in the international market has reached $117 per barrel.
According to experts, if the Russia-Ukraine war continues, then crude oil prices could reach $ 185 per barrel.
According to the BSF, around 5.15 a.m. an alert BSF team comprising Head Constable (HC) Gyan Singh and Constable Raju Biswas of 89 Battalion observed suspicious movement of miscreants, suspected to be smugglers both across the International Border as well as inside the Indian territory between the Border Outpost No. 33/06 and 33/07 in the cover of dense fog.
In an apparent embarrassment for Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, his 'elder sister' Suman Tur on Friday described him a 'cruel' for deserting her elderly mother after father's death with an intention to 'grab family property'. She told the media here that Sidhu had abandoned her mother and she passed away on a railway station in 1989.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday demanded transfer of state intelligence officials, including the top brass, who face charges of compromising the security of Punjab and indulging in electoral malpractices to provide "illegal, illegitimate and immoral" help to the ruling Congress.
Due to incessant rains and water logging of fields owing to overflow of nearby natural drains during September-October 2021 in Delhi, crops of farmers have been severely damaged, the Delhi government said in a release, adding that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had taken cognisance of the matter and assessed that a relief package for crop damage was necessary to be provided.
The SKM also reiterated that the name, banner or platform of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will not be used by any political party or candidate in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Punjab, scheduled on February 20.
Appearing for the Punjab government, Senior Advocate P. Chidambaram argued that Majithia has gone into hiding after the rejection of his bail plea in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and now he is appearing through counsel.
