Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over rising petrol and diesel prices, alleging that the public has been denied relief despite a decline in global crude oil prices.
In a post on social media platform X, the Congress president cited official figures and questioned why fuel prices in India have continued to rise even though crude oil prices have fallen compared to 2014.
“Haath kangan ko aarsi kya, Padhe-likhe ko Farsi kya!” Kharge wrote, using the Hindi proverb to suggest that the facts were self-evident.
Referring to official data released by the Press Information Bureau, Kharge said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office on May 26, 2014, the price of crude oil in the Indian basket stood at 108.05 US dollars per barrel, while the rupee-dollar exchange rate was Rs 58.59 per dollar.
“At that time, petrol was available at Rs 71.51 per litre and diesel at Rs 56.71 per litre,” Kharge said.
Drawing a comparison with current fuel prices, the Congress leader claimed that crude oil prices are now below 99 dollars per barrel, yet petrol and diesel prices have climbed significantly.
“Today, petrol costs Rs 102.12 per litre and diesel Rs 95.20 per litre. In other words, crude oil has become cheaper, but petrol has become about 42.8 per cent more expensive and diesel about 67.9 per cent more expensive,” he said.
Kharge further argued that rising fuel prices have a cascading effect on the economy and increase inflationary pressure on ordinary citizens.
“Every economist knows that rising petrol and diesel prices affect every sector. From transportation to food items, inflation increases the burden on the common man. Despite this, the government’s profiteering continues,” he alleged.
Questioning the Centre’s fuel pricing policy, the Congress president asked, “If crude oil became cheaper, why did petrol and diesel become more expensive? Why has the public not received any relief.”
Fuel prices have remained a politically sensitive issue over the past decade, with opposition parties repeatedly accusing the Centre of imposing high excise duties on petroleum products.
The union government, however, has maintained that global market volatility, state-level taxes and investments in welfare and infrastructure projects are among the factors influencing retail fuel prices in the country.
