New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday, March 27, attacked the government after fuel prices were increased for the fifth time in six days, and demanded that it should give an account of the Rs 26 lakh crore “accrued” through excise duty on petrol and diesel in about eight years.Petrol prices on Sunday were hiked by 50 paise a litre and diesel by 55 paise, taking the total increase in rates since the resumption of daily price revisions less than a week ago to Rs 3.70-3.75 per litre.Also read: In Fifth Revision in a Week, Petrol Price Hiked by 50 Paise a Litre and Diesel by 55 PaiseIn a tweet in Hindi, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Will tell with full force in eight years, earned a profit of Rs 26,00,000 crore through tax loot on petrol/diesel. Were silent for 137 days to dupe voters in elections, then in only six days, loot of Rs 3.75 per litre.”He also posted an old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking about the Opposition crediting his ‘luck’ for the reduction in petrol prices.पूरी ताकत से ही बताएंगे-8 साल में डीज़ल/पेट्रोल पर #TaxLoot से ₹26,00,000 CR मुनाफा कमाया।चुनाव में चूना लगाने के लिए 137 दिन चुप,फ़िर 6 दिन में ही ⛽ पर ₹3.75/L की लूट?अब किसकी ‘बदनसीबी’ और ‘बदनीयती’ से जनता बेतहाशा महंगाई झेलने को मजबूर है? 👇#PetrolDieselPriceHike pic.twitter.com/qboAAzE0xS— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2022Tagging the video, Surjewala asked, “With whose bad luck and bad intent is the public reeling under inflation now?”At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera thanked Rahul Gandhi, who had said fuel prices would be increased after polls.“The Congress is the only party raising this since issues of the public matter to it more than winning elections,” Khera said.“Where is the account of the Rs 26 lakh crore accrued through excise duty on petroleum and diesel? The country has the right to know,” Khera said.After Sunday’s hike, petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 99.11 per litre as against Rs 98.61 previously while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 89.87 per litre to Rs 90.42, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state, depending upon the incidence of local taxation.This is the fifth increase in prices since the four-and-half-month-long hiatus in rate revision cam to an end on March 22. On all four previous occasions, prices had been increased by 80 paise per litre.(PTI)