After being questioned about rising petrol costs, a Madhya Pradesh BJP leader sparked outrage by telling a journalist to “travel to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.” The journalist was blasted by Ramratan Payal, the party’s district unit chairman in Katni, for asking about fuel prices at a time when “the third wave of the coronavirus is going to come.”
“Make your way to the Taliban. In Afghanistan, petrol costs 50 cents per litre. Go refuel your gasoline there (Afghanistan), where no one is available to do so. At the very least, we are safe in India. While India has already had two coronavirus waves, the third is due to arrive ” According to NDTV, the BJP politician is heard stating in a video that has gone viral.
The BJP leader, who was flanked by his supporters, none of whom wore a face mask, also scolded the journalist about persons who did not follow Covid protocols.
“You’re a well-known journalist. Do you have any idea how bad things are in the country? What (Narendra) Modi-ji is doing to keep the issue under control. He continues to provide free rations to 80 million people “he stated
Mr Payal made the remarks after taking part in a tree-planting programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the BJP’s youth wing.
He is not the first BJP politician to call on individuals who oppose the party’s government to flee to Afghanistan. His Bihar colleague Haribhushan Thakur recently urged “those who are terrified in India” to visit the war-torn country.
“…people who are afraid here can go there… gasoline and diesel are less expensive. They would recognise the value of India once they arrive “He said this in response to critics of the fuel price hike.
In most states across the country, the price of gasoline has surpassed ₹100 per litre, while diesel prices have above ₹90. For the 34th day in a row, fuel prices in the four metros stayed steady today. Diesel prices, on the other hand, have been reduced by up to 25 paise across the metros for the third day in a row.
The Chenab Times News Desk