Opposition Mounts Pressure Over Fuel Price Surge
Fresh increases in petrol and diesel prices have triggered a sharp political confrontation, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accusing the Narendra Modi-led government of worsening the economic burden on citizens through repeated fuel hikes.
Launching a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge alleged that the country was facing rising unemployment, inflation and financial instability while the government had failed to provide meaningful relief to struggling households.
“The country’s economy is collapsing and people are crushed by inflation and unemployment,” Kharge said while criticising the Centre over rising fuel and cooking gas prices.
Congress Compares NDA Era With UPA Subsidy Model
The Congress chief claimed that soaring fuel costs had directly increased the prices of essential commodities, making survival increasingly difficult for poor and lower middle-class families.
Drawing comparisons with the previous UPA government, Kharge said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had shielded citizens from global crude oil shocks through subsidy measures during difficult economic periods.
According to Kharge, the present administration was instead “engaged in exploiting the public” through repeated increases in fuel prices.
CPI(M) Calls Fuel Hikes ‘Enormous Burden’
The criticism against the government was echoed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) following its three-day Central Committee meeting.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the party said repeated fuel price hikes combined with austerity measures had placed enormous pressure on ordinary citizens already struggling with rising living costs.
“The rising prices of fuel, together with the austerity measures are an enormous burden on the people,” the CPI(M) said.
The party further alleged that the government had failed to secure India’s long-term energy interests, resulting in increased hardships for the public.
Samajwadi Party Targets BJP Over ‘Amrit Kaal’
The Samajwadi Party also criticised the Centre, accusing the BJP of turning its “Amrit Kaal” slogan into an era marked by inflation and rising expenses.
In a social media post, the party highlighted that petrol and diesel prices had reportedly increased multiple times within a short period, adding to public frustration over transportation and household costs.
The latest political confrontation comes as fuel prices continue to dominate national debate, with opposition parties attempting to build pressure on the government over inflation ahead of upcoming political battles.
Rising Fuel Costs Fuel Inflation Concerns
Economists and opposition leaders argue that repeated increases in fuel prices are likely to impact transportation, food delivery, logistics and daily household expenses, potentially worsening inflation across sectors.
