The recent Petrol Diesel Price Hike across India has sparked a major political confrontation, with the BJP defending the increase as relatively small compared to global trends, while opposition parties accused the Narendra Modi government of putting additional pressure on common citizens.
Oil marketing companies increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday amid rising global crude oil prices linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Iran war. Following the latest Petrol Diesel Price Hike, petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 97.77 per litre, while diesel prices have climbed significantly as well.
The fuel price increase has intensified concerns over inflation, transportation costs, and the growing financial burden on households as global energy markets remain volatile.
BJP Defends Petrol Diesel Price Hike
Defending the Petrol Diesel Price Hike, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said India was in a far better position compared to many countries facing the global energy crisis.
“Compared to other nations, fuel prices in India have risen less. The government is making every possible effort to ensure the minimum burden falls on the public,” Hussain told .
He also accused opposition parties of attempting to provoke people over the fuel price issue.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju echoed similar views, saying India had managed the global oil crisis better than most nations despite crude oil prices crossing $100 per barrel.
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“As the world battled rising fuel costs after the West Asia conflict, India stood apart,” Rijiju wrote on X.
According to him, several countries witnessed fuel price hikes ranging from 20 per cent to nearly 100 per cent, whereas India limited the increase to nearly 3 per cent for petrol and diesel. He also stated that public sector oil companies absorbed heavy losses for weeks to shield citizens from inflationary pressure.
IOCL Says Fuel Supply Situation Under Pressure
Indian Oil Corporation Limited also defended the revision, describing the Petrol Diesel Price Hike as limited despite severe pressure on the energy sector.
Arvind Kumar, Director (Refineries) at IOCL, said refineries were functioning beyond full capacity to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies across the country.
“It is a very small rise. There is a lot of pressure. But I can tell you that Indian Oil group companies and refineries are working round the clock at more than 100 per cent capacity so that there will be no crisis and no dryout at any of our retail outlets,” he said.
The Centre has repeatedly assured citizens that there is no immediate fuel shortage despite instability in West Asia and disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress Slam Government
The opposition strongly criticised the Petrol Diesel Price Hike and accused the Centre of delaying the increase until after elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the government in a post on X, saying, “The public will pay the price for the Modi government’s mistake. The Rs 3 shock has already arrived; the rest of the recovery will be done in instalments.”
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government failed to pass on benefits to consumers when global crude oil prices were lower in previous years.
“For years, when international oil prices were soft or declining, the Congress had been urging that those benefits should be passed on to Indian consumers,” Ramesh said.
He further claimed that consumers were heavily burdened during that period and argued that the latest Petrol Diesel Price Hike, along with increased commercial LPG prices, could push inflation closer to 6 per cent during the current financial year.
Ramesh also linked the rise in global oil prices to the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the United States and Israel.