Congress on Monday took a swipe at Narendra Modi-led central government after the fuel prices witnessed a hike of Rs 2.61 per liter on petrol and Rs 2.71 per liter on diesel saying that Narendra Modi government has sprinkled petrol to burn the savings of common people and the Prime Minister during elections make promises while rest of the time he attacks the pockets of common man.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi smaller the BJP-led NDA government at the centre over the fourth fuel hike in last 11 days since May 15.
In a post on X, Kharge hit back at the government and said, “The Daily Assault of FUEL LOOT is not over yet! Fourth hike in 10 days!! Petrol – Rs 7.35/litre, Diesel – Rs 7.53/litre. Modi Government has sprinkled Petrol to Burn the Savings of common people.”
Kharge also said that between 2004 and 2014, during the UPA, international crude oil prices increased by 175.34 per cent. During Modi Government, not even a single cent of international crude oil prices have increased.
“Despite that Modi Government 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 per cent, and diesel prices from Rs 56.71 per litre to Rs 95.20 per litre, an increase of 67.87 per cent,” he said taking a pot shot at the Centre.
Slamming the government, he said, “Modi Government has looted Rs 43 lakh crore in the last 12 years, making it a loot of Rs 1,000 (crore) EVERYDAY! With the fourth time rise in Petrol and Diesel prices, today the shares of HPCL, BPCL and IOC rose by 5.8 per cent, 4.44 per cent and 3.90 per cent respectively. Profit over People is BJP’s DNA.”
“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?” Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asked.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also came down heavily on the government and criticised it over the fourth hike in fuel prices in last 10 days saying that Mehangai (Inflation) Man Modi’s only job is to make promises during elections, and the rest of the time, attacks on the public’s pocket.
In a post on X, in Hindi, he said, “Mehangai Man Modi strikes again.They raise petrol-diesel prices in installments-so that your pocket keeps getting quietly fleeced.”
He pointed out that he has been warning for months about an economic storm coming.
“But Modi ji, as always, was busy with elections back then-and the moment elections ended, petrol-diesel was hiked by Rs 8.
And this rise will just keep happening. Inflation Man Modi’s only job is this -promise during elections, and the rest of the time, attacks on the public’s pocket,” he added.
The sharp reactions came after the fuel prices increased for the fourth time in last 11 days.
The prices of petrol increased by Rs 2.61 per liter while prices of diesel increased by Rs 2.71 per liter.
With the hike in fuel prices, petrol in Delhi is Rs 102.12 per liter while Diesel prices are at Rs 95.20.
Earlier Petrol and diesel prices were first increased on May 15, 2026 and since then have seen three more hikes in a span of just 11 days. The prices were increased by around Rs 3 per litre in a first after four years. Petrol price was increased by 87 paise and diesel price was hiked by 91 paise on May 19, 2026.
Petrol and diesel prices were raised by 87-91 paise per litre on May 23, 2026.
Now, following the latest revision today, the cumulative increase in fuel prices since May 15 has approached nearly Rs 7.5 per litre.