New Delhi, Sept 21 (UNI) A large number of Delhi Congress workers today held protest against hike in the prices of petrol and diesel due to the excise duty imposed by the BJP-led Central Government and the VAT charged by the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Delhi. The Congress workers under the leadership of DPCC president Ajay Maken, formed a human chain from Mandi House crossing to Parliament and demanded roll back of the taxes on petrol and diesel. Addressing the Congress workers, Mr Maken said the Delhi Congress will continue with the people’s fight at the grass-root level till the prices of petrol and diesel are reduced. 'The Modi Government increased excise duty on petrol and diesel 11 times to make it 133 per cent excise on petrol and 400 per cent excise on diesel while the Kejriwal Government in Delhi made changes in the law to hike VAT twice as VAT cap on petrol was removed to take it from 20 to 27 per cent while VAT on diesel was increased from 12.5 per cent to 16.75 per cent, Mr Maken said. 'If the Modi-Kejriwal tax is removed from petrol and diesel, then petrol can be soled in Delhi for Rs 34 per litre while the price of diesel will come down to Rs 32 per litre,' the Congress leader said. He said due to the increase in excise duty and VAT on petrol and diesel, for Rs 100 worth of petrol, Rs 51.78 goes into taxes while for Rs 100 worth of diesel, the tax component is Rs 44.40. 'When the Congress-led UPA Government was in power at the Centre in May 2014, the crude oil price in the international market was dollar 108.05 per barrel and petrol was sold in Delhi then for Rs 71.41 per litre, but despite the price of crude oil in the international market falling to dollar 54.69 per barrel now, the price of petrol in Delhi stays at Rs 70.49 per litre, Mr Maken said. The increase in the prices of petrol and diesel has affected the transport sector, having a cascading effect on the prices of all essential commodities, making them beyond the purchasing power of the common people, the Congress leader added. UNI NY SHK 2116