Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized the central government over the continued rise in petrol and diesel prices in India. He questioned why fuel prices have increased significantly even though global crude oil prices have reportedly fallen over the last several years.
According to Kharge, the rising fuel prices are directly affecting ordinary citizens and contributing to inflation across multiple sectors. He stated that higher petrol and diesel costs lead to increased transportation expenses, which eventually raise the prices of essential goods and services used by the public every day.
The Congress leader alleged that despite international crude oil prices declining compared to earlier years, consumers in India are not receiving the expected benefit. He questioned the policies of the central government and asked who is benefiting from the continued increase in fuel prices.
Fuel prices have remained a major political and economic issue in India for several years. Political parties and economists often debate the relationship between international crude oil prices, central and state taxes, and retail fuel rates. Opposition parties have repeatedly demanded reductions in excise duty and other taxes to provide relief to consumers.
Kharge said the burden of inflation is affecting middle class families, daily wage workers, farmers, transport operators, and small businesses. He claimed that increasing fuel prices indirectly impact every household because transportation costs influence the prices of food items, vegetables, and essential commodities.
The Congress party also questioned why there has been no substantial reduction in petrol and diesel prices despite fluctuations in the international oil market. Party leaders argued that when global crude prices decline, consumers expect lower fuel prices domestically. However, they alleged that the benefits are not being passed on fully to the public.
The central government has previously stated that fuel pricing depends on several factors, including global crude oil prices, currency exchange rates, refining costs, transportation expenses, and taxes imposed by both the Centre and state governments. Officials have also pointed out that fuel taxes are an important source of revenue for infrastructure development and welfare schemes.
Economic experts note that fuel prices play a crucial role in determining inflation levels in the country. Any increase in diesel prices particularly affects logistics and transportation sectors because diesel is widely used in commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery.
The issue is expected to remain a key political topic as parties continue to debate fuel pricing policies and inflation ahead of upcoming political events. Citizens and consumer groups have also called for measures to stabilize fuel prices and reduce the impact of inflation on everyday life.