Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC General Secretary and State In-charge, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at a press conference at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on March 27. Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
Karnataka’s ruling Congress on Friday (March 27) termed the Centre’s cut in excise duty on petroleum fuel as mere “balance sheet management and convenient accounting” to help oil companies make money by shifting the burden to the government and ultimately the people of India.
“Election Trick”
In a joint statement issued in Bengaluru on March 27, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary and State In-Charge Randeep S. Surjewala said that the BJP government at the Center is all set to increase gas, diesel and petrol prices soon after the upcoming elections to various state assemblies.
“With the crisis looming large in West Asia, Nayara Energy (formerly Essar) has hiked petrol price by ₹5.30 per liter and diesel price by ₹3 per litre. This is a prelude to soon hike in petrol, diesel and gas prices as the BJP government waits for the conclusion of elections by April 23 and April 5, 2026,” they claimed, adding that the Center is now only “trying deceive the people” by announcing a cut in excise duty.
More than 11 years
“In the last 11 years, the Modi government has collected ₹ 43 crore by taxing petrol and diesel. This amounts to about ₹ 1,000 crore every day since 2014,” they said.
“The price of petrol on 26 May 2014 during the UPA government was ₹ 71.41 per litre, while the price of diesel was ₹ 56.71 per litre. Petrol is now selling at ₹ 102.96 per liter and diesel at ₹ 90.99 per liter in Bengaluru. West Asia war ($70 per barrel), petrol price should be ₹ 61.60 per liter and diesel should now be ₹ 56.99 ₹ per litre,” claimed the three leaders.
“Similarly, LPG cylinder price has increased from ₹ 412 in May 2014 to ₹ 913 in March 2026 – an increase of ₹ 501, which is a 121.6% increase in 12 years. The international price of LPG was around US$ 880.5 per tonne in March 2026, down by US$ 339, representing a decrease of 38.5% over this period,” they argued.
Published – 27 March 2026 21:38 IST
