Vehicle owners can afford higher fuel price: BJP Minister

His comments coming at a time when fuel prices are at a three-year high when international crude prices have crashed attracted strong criticism from opposition parties which described them as insensitive to the common man’s problems. 

“So we are going to tax people who can afford to pay. Somebody who has a car, bike; certainly he is not starving. Somebody who can afford to pay, has to pay,” he said. Asked about price rise of essential commodities in the wake of fuel price hike, Alphons said inflation rate of four per cent in the country was less than half per cent prescribed by the RBI. 

Congress leader and former petroleum minister Veerappa Moily attacked Alphons saying it was an atrocious statement. 

“This is how bureaucrats, who come to politics, have no understanding of people’s problems. Many of the ministers in Modi’s government are like this.” Opposition leader in the state assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, hit out at the Union minister for his remarks and described it as “utter foolishness”. 

As his remarks came under attack, Alphons who had a recently stirred the hornet’s nest by making contradictory remarks on beef, sought to justify his statement on the petroleum prices. “Prime Minister has a huge dream for the poor of India. What is that dream? It is very simple. 

30 per cent of Indians go to bed without a full meal meal a day. Lot of our people do not have access to toilet. Lot of people do not have a house,” he said.