Twitter outraged over Alphons Kannanthanam's statement defending high fuel price

On Sunday, Alphons Kannanthanam set the cat among the pigeons with his remarks about the fuel rise, in which he claimed that those who ‘owned a vehicle and can afford to pay, will have to pay.

‘Who buys petrol’ Somebody who has a car, bike; certainly he is not starving. Somebody who can afford to pay, has to pay,’ Kannanthanam told the media on Saturday.

Kannanthanam said that the government is working for the welfare of the downtrodden to ensure electricity in every village, build houses and toilets, for which money is needed and the ruling dispensation is not stealing that money from anyone.

‘We are imposing the taxes so that the poor have a dignified life. Money being collected today is not being stolen by us. It is going to cost enormous amount of money. So we are going to tax people who can afford to pay,’ he said.

The petrol and diesel prices have gone through the roof ever since the central government announced daily revision of fuel prices. Petrol price in Delhi on Tuesday was at Rs. 70.38 per litre, whereas in Mumbai a litre of petrol costs Rs. 79.48.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to his remarks: 

Who buys Alphons? Someone who can't afford Dasheri!

— supriyo gupta (@supriyo666) September 16, 2017

Nehru-Gandhi Socialism is alive and well. https://t.co/kytD7nyFiz

— Bobby Ghosh (@ghoshworld) September 16, 2017

Jee mantriji, it is the taxpayers responsibility to not protest but rather help the government carry on with the fuel loot. #NewIndia https://t.co/zfOmmcjMsK

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) September 16, 2017

India: a country where you can justify anything at any level by claiming that only privileged people are affected. https://t.co/yZBfBy3tuv

— Nitin Pai (@acorn) September 16, 2017

Exactly the kind of hubris & arrogance that put an end to #IndiaShining. Public memory is short sonpeople have forgotten those lessons  https://t.co/5AIMw9nVKH

— Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) September 16, 2017

I think Govt should take all the money from these rich people who are buying petrol and should give them 5000 Rs per month as living expense https://t.co/JWkBV5RbKG

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) September 16, 2017

This is a cruel joke. https://t.co/eR8gvjSqRn

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) September 16, 2017

He was a bureaucrat, right? Did he ever pay for his petrol? Ever took public transport and asked drivers? https://t.co/5yVGxfSEx3

— Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) September 16, 2017

In other words, hard-working middle class has to pay the money by which the BJP govt will buy the votes of the poor https://t.co/rpPRI7s2Mt

— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) September 16, 2017

This is exactly what Congress leaders used to say before 2014. @narendramodi https://t.co/PpEHyBXQXc

— Yathish (@dimaagkoshot) September 16, 2017

I cannot believe this is a Union minister. Fuel has direct impact of GDP and inflation. I still cannot believe he is a Union minister. https://t.co/koCHdJ6xjD

— richa singh (@richa_singh) September 16, 2017

I am going to print this comment to show BJP leaders when they come asking for vote next elections. https://t.co/4OoPlAdCOS

— Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস (@rajudasonline) September 16, 2017

Indian version of : we don't have bread; then eat cake https://t.co/oHVHyZU1Ue

— K (@AsYouNotLike) September 16, 2017

UPA: We will do everything possible to lose 2019
NDA: Hold my drink... https://t.co/IldxnjuF41

— Tushar Abhichandani (@YawnOkPlease) September 16, 2017

Marx with Cow  https://t.co/EqqTyMTXEl

— Petyr Baelish (@doubtinggaurav) September 16, 2017

KJ Alphons says those who can afford to buy cars and bikes must pay higher cost of fuel. By this logic any act of robbery can be justified.

— Pritish Nandy (@PritishNandy) September 16, 2017