Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday criticized the Central government over the fourth hike in fuel prices in 10 days, alleging that farmers, small industries and every section of society are “bearing the brunt of BJP’s plunder of the country”.
“The daily attack on fuel looting is not over yet!” Kharge wrote in a post on the website X.Kharge that also claimed that over the past 12 years, the government has “looted.” $42 thousand crores, which he said comes to approx $1000 per day.
“Every rise in fuel prices is another blow to household budgets, and has a cascading effect on every aspect of the economy. From farmers to small, medium and micro enterprises, all strata of society are bearing the brunt of the BJP’s spoils,” Karg said.
The latest amendment comes after three consecutive increases in recent days. On May 15, petrol and diesel prices were raised by $3 per litre. This was followed by another rise on May 19 at 90 piasters per litre. On May 23, gasoline prices were raised by 87 piasters per liter, while diesel prices rose by 91 piasters per litre.
Referring to the prices between 2004 and 2014, under the United Progressive Alliance-led administration, Karji said that despite sharp increases in crude oil prices at that time, the government had subsequently taken steps to ensure that the price increases were not felt.
“The Modi government sprayed petrol to burn the savings of common people. Between 2004 and 2014, during the United Progressive Alliance, international crude oil prices rose by 175.34%. During the Modi government, not even a cent of international crude oil prices rose,” Karg wrote.
“Despite this, the Modi government has hiked petrol prices $71.41 per liter in 2014 to $102.12 per liter in 2026, an increase of 43.01%, and diesel prices from $56.71 per litre $95.20 per liter, an increase of 67.87%. Modi government has been plundered $43 lakh crore in the last 12 years, making it a loot $1000 every day!” added the Congress president.
Alleging that the BJP cares more about profit than people’s lives, Kharge asserted that with the fourth increase in prices, oil marketing companies also saw their shares rise in the stock market today.
“With the fourth hike in petrol and diesel prices, shares of HPCL, BPCL and IOC today rose by 5.8%, 4.44% and 3.90% respectively. Profit at the expense of people is the DNA of BJP!”, he wrote. He also asked, “Who benefits from this daily theft?”
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also questioned the government’s claim that there is no shortage of fuel supply.
“On the one hand, you claim that there is no shortage in the country; on the other hand, you keep raising prices. I simply want to say this, Prime Minister Modi, by giving an injection of communalism to the public and then doing whatever you please… future generations will never forgive you,” Tiwari told ANI.
After the latest revision, petrol prices in Delhi have crossed the mark $100 marks, go up $2.61 L $102.12 per litre, while diesel prices increased by $2.71 L $95.20 per litre.
Meanwhile, CNG prices have also increased in Delhi $1 per kg on Saturday – the third rise in 10 days – which takes the retail price to $81.09 per kilogram.
The recurring fuel price hikes come amid ongoing pressure on oil marketing companies due to rising global crude oil prices, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and concerns about supply disruptions linked to ongoing tensions in West Asia.
The main concern remains instability in the region and its impact on global oil supply routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, a major sea lane through which a large share of global crude oil shipments passes. Any potential disturbance or threat in the region generally leads to a sharp rise in global oil prices.
Continued hikes in petrol, diesel and CNG prices are likely to further increase logistics and transportation costs, which could lead to a cascading effect on retail inflation and impact household budgets as well as commercial transportation sectors across the country.
