In a series of tweets clarifying the low cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri took a jibe at the Gandhi family on Tuesday night. He shared a picture that shows them inside an aircraft and said, "Those who fly in luxury," should know what low ATF cost means. Mr Puri's tweet comes at a time when rising prices of petrol and diesel are being compared to lower ATF prices. ATF, used in aircraft, is now reportedly 30% cheaper than auto fuel.
Taking a dig at the union minister, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded the next morning by sharing an old picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with businessmen Gautam Adani and Vibhav Kant Upadhyay on board an aircraft. "Modi ji, @HardeepSPuri ji is saying bad things about you," he tweeted along with the picture.
Mr Puri had posted pictures on the social media website, one of which showed Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as children sitting with Sonia Gandhi and Indira Gandhi inside an aircraft. "Those who fly in luxury must know that low ATF prices make flying affordable & fulfil PM Modi Ji's vision of 'hawai chappal se hawai jahaaj' through UDAN scheme," he said.
He also pointed out that ATF has always been cheaper than consumer fuels, and the Centre charges only 2% central excise on ATF at UDAN airports. UDAN, part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the central government, is an airport development program aimed at upgrading underserviced air routes to make air travel cheaper and more widely available.
"Instead of questioning low ATF prices, they should convince Congress-ruled states to reduce taxes & levies on fuel," Mr Puri added.
Consumer fuel prices have seen a continuous hike in recent weeks; petrol is now at Rs 100-a-litre mark or more in all state capitals while diesel has touched the 100-mark in over a dozen states. ATF in Delhi costs Rs 79,020.16 per kilolitre or Rs 79 per litre.
Brazil Block On Elon Musk's X Comes Into Effect "To Cover Up Delays...": Centre On Mamata Banerjee's Letter On Rape Cases "I Apologise At Shivaji's Feet": PM Modi In Maharashtra On Statue Collapse US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank Elderly Man Slapped, Abused On Train Over Suspicion Of Carrying Beef UK's Seat Should Go To India: Ex-Diplomat On UN Security Council Reforms 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Trump "Disrespected Sacred Ground' At US Military Cemetery: Kamala Harris Top 10 US Universities Based On Forbes Rankings 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.