Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday targeted the Modi government over rising petrol and diesel prices, questioning why fuel rates have continued to increase despite a fall in international crude oil prices over the past several years. Referring to official data, Kharge said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office on May 26, 2014, crude oil prices were around USD 108 per barrel, while petrol and diesel were significantly cheaper across the country compared to current rates.

Kharge pointed out that crude oil prices are now below USD 99 per barrel, yet petrol prices have crossed Rs 102 per litre and diesel prices have risen above Rs 95 in several areas. He argued that fuel becoming more expensive despite cheaper crude oil directly impacts transportation, food prices, and the overall cost of living for ordinary citizens. The Congress chief accused the government of continuing “profiteering” while inflation continues to burden the public.

The remarks came after petrol and diesel prices were increased again on Monday by around Rs 2.6 to Rs 2.7 per litre, marking the fourth fuel price hike in less than two weeks. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, strongly criticised the latest hike, alleging that the government is putting additional financial pressure on citizens despite global oil prices remaining relatively lower than previous years. Kharge also questioned who is benefiting from the repeated fuel hikes while common people continue facing rising daily expenses.