New Delhi, April 8 : The Congress party on Friday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of unleashing cruelty on the common people by increasing prices of essential commodities. “The Modi government is unleashing cruelty on the common people. It is unfortunate that the government is crushing the common people by continuously increasing the prices of essential commodities,” senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here. Talking about the fuel prices, Singhvi said, “In the last 16 days, the prices of petrol and diesel have increased 14 times. In the last eight years, the Modi government has collected Rs 26 lakh crore as excise on petrol and diesel.” The grand old party earlier asked the Centre to restore prices of petrol and diesel at the level where they were during the UPA government’s tenure. Mentioning about LPG cylinder, the Congress MP claimed, “In the last 8 years of the Modi government, LPG prices have increased by Rs 845.” He also claimed that the price of fertilizer of farmers also increased and asked whether the government was taking revenge against them as they had earlier protested against the government. “The government did not even allow discussion on price rise in the Parliament. The government was scared,” Singhvi said, attacking the Centre. On Thursday, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of not holding a discussion over price rise in Parliament after both Houses were adjourned sine die, a day ahead of schedule.” DS SHK1941