Amid the Bharat Bandh or Nationwide protest declared by Congress party and Left parties, a statement of Rajasthan minister Rajkumar Rinwa shocked everyone. The minister has blamed the citizens for the increasing fuel prices. "The government is making efforts to reduce the fuel prices by reducing tax. Expenditure is being made in thousands of crores on flood relief all around (the country) for which money is required," he told reporters. Rinwa's remarks met with condemnation from the Opposition Congress in Rajasthan.