The leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Ms Sushma Swaraj, on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the government over the price rise and fuel hike issues, accusing it of having "betrayed the common man".
Beginning the debate on the issue in the lower house of parliament, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader lashed out at the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for being "insensitive" to the cause of the common man.
"The government is not sensitive to the cause of the common man. Everybody in society is lamenting that they are being hit hard by price rise," Ms Swaraj said.
"The common man is starved. His income is not increasing. But his expenditure is high, because of the rising prices of food articles and petroleum products. The government has betrayed the common man."
Referring to the tax rates on petroleum products in the US, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, Ms Swaraj said the taxes on petroleum products in India were higher than anywhere in the world.
She also attacked the government for "mishandling" storage of food grains.
"Lakhs and lakhs of tonnes of wheat are rotting in Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns, while the states are seeking more and more foodgrains," the BJP leader said.
"That's why I call the government insensitive," Ms Swaraj said.
She also said the government has become "unpopular".
The debate will not be followed by a vote.