NEW DELHI: Opposition parties on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi-led Centre over the latest increase in petrol and diesel prices, accusing the government of burdening common people despite stable international crude oil prices.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the BJP government was engaging in “fuel loot” through repeated hikes in fuel prices.In a post on X, Kharge said, “The Daily Assault of FUEL LOOT is not over yet! 4th hike in 10 days !!”He claimed that petrol prices had increased by Rs 7.35 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 7.53 per litre in recent weeks.“Modi Govt has sprinkled Petrol to Burn the Savings of common people,” Kharge said.Targeting the Centre over fuel pricing, Kharge said, “Between 2004 and 2014, during the UPA, international crude oil prices increased by 175.34%. During Modi Govt, not even a single cent of international crude oil prices have increased.”“Despite that Modi Govt. has hiked the petrol prices from Rs 71.41 per litre in 2014 to Rs 102.12 per litre in 2026, a rise of 43.01%, and diesel prices from Rs 56.71 per litre to Rs 95.20 per litre, an increase of 67.87%,” he added.Kharge further alleged that the Centre had “looted Rs 43 lakh crore in the last 12 years,” claiming it amounted to “Rs 1000 EVERYDAY!”The Congress president also linked the latest fuel price hike to gains in oil marketing company stocks.“With the 4th time rise in Petrol and Diesel prices, today the shares of HPCL, BPCL and IOC rose by 5.8%, 4.44% and 3.90% respectively. Profit over People is BJP’s DNA!” he said.Kharge argued that repeated increases in fuel prices were hurting household budgets and affecting multiple sectors of the economy.“Every fuel price hike is another blow to household budgets, and has a cascading effect on every aspect of the economy. From Farmers to MSMEs, every strata of the society bears the brunt of BJP’s LOOT. We repeat. Who is benefitting from this DAILY ROBBERY?” he said.Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also criticised the Centre and questioned why India was not purchasing cheaper crude oil and gas from Russia and Iran.In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “Oil prices have risen again. Yet we are still not buying cheap oil from Russia and Iran. What is Modi’s such compulsion?”In a video message, he said petrol and diesel prices had increased by Rs 7.5 to Rs 8 in the last two weeks, while prices in several other countries had risen by only around Rs 2.5 on average.“Today again, they have increased the prices of petrol and diesel. On average, prices have gone up by Rs 2.5 each across the country. This is the fourth hike in the last few days. In the past 10-15 days, petrol and diesel prices have increased by about Rs 7.5 to Rs 8,” he said.Kejriwal further said Russia and Iran were ready to supply cheaper oil and gas to India in sufficient quantities.“Russia and Iran are ready to supply us with oil and gas at cheaper rates and in sufficient quantities. Why are we not buying from them? Two or three days ago, I asked you if our country should purchase oil and gas from Russia and Iran. Almost 97% of people agreed that we should,” he added.Questioning the Centre’s position, Kejriwal asked, “When the citizens are demanding it, and these countries are offering cheap and ample supplies, what are the constraints preventing the Prime Minister from buying oil and gas from Russia and Iran? I want to ask you, what do you think is stopping him?”“Currently, 1.4 billion people are suffering. They are struggling to manage their household expenses. Inflation has skyrocketed. What are the Prime Minister’s compulsions that are forcing 1.4 billion people to endure this hardship?” he asked.Meanwhile, petrol and diesel prices were hiked again on Monday, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks amid volatility in global crude markets and geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
How often should the government reassess fuel prices to ensure they reflect market conditions?
