Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday launched a sharp attack on the central government over the recent rise in petrol and diesel prices, terming the repeated hikes a “daily assault of fuel loot” and accusing the NDA government of placing an additional burden on ordinary citizens. His remarks come amid the fourth fuel price revision in a span of two weeks, triggering fresh political debate over rising energy costs.

Kharge alleged that the repeated increases in fuel prices reflect a deliberate policy that is straining household budgets across the country. In a post on social media platform X, he criticised the frequency of revisions, stating that fuel rates had been increased four times in just 11 days. He claimed that such hikes were impacting inflation and adding pressure on the cost of living for middle- and lower-income families.

The Congress leader also cited revised fuel prices, noting that petrol and diesel had become significantly more expensive in recent years. He compared current rates with those in 2014, alleging a steep rise in prices over the past decade. Kharge argued that this long-term upward trend was evidence of what he described as economic mismanagement and unfair taxation policies affecting common consumers.

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Further intensifying his criticism, Kharge alleged that the government had collected substantial revenue through fuel taxation over the years, which he claimed amounted to what he described as a massive financial burden on the public. He also pointed to the impact of rising fuel prices on markets, noting that shares of state-owned oil companies saw gains following the latest price revision, which he argued reflected a system that prioritises profits over public welfare.

Fuel prices were revised again on Monday, with petrol increasing by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.71 per litre across several markets. With the latest adjustment, petrol is now priced at around Rs 102.12 per litre in Delhi, while diesel has risen to approximately Rs 95.20 per litre. This marks the fourth increase since mid-May, following earlier incremental hikes earlier in the month.

Officials have attributed the recent volatility in fuel prices to global crude oil trends and geopolitical tensions in key energy-producing regions. However, the repeated revisions have triggered political criticism, with opposition leaders warning that continued increases could have a cascading effect on transportation costs, agriculture, and essential commodities, further impacting inflationary pressures in the economy.

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