Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on May 15 accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of raising fuel prices amid the conflict in West Asia, while taking a firm stand for public welfare.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi he said the “mistakes” of the Prime Minister Modi-led government had cost the people and claimed that the hike in petrol and diesel prices, which he called “vasooli (extortion)”, would be done in installments.
“Modi government’s mistake, public will pay the price ₹3 the shock has already come. The rest of the recovery will take place in installments,” he said.
The harsh attack came after the Center hiked the price of petrol and diesel ₹3 per liter across the country. Delhi petrol prices rise after revision ₹94.77 to ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel prices rose from ₹87.67 to ₹90.67 per litre.
Formerly, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju advocated for fuel price hikes, comparing India’s 3.2% and 3.4% petrol price hikes to other countries and claiming to have seen increases from 20% to nearly 100% due to conflict in West Asia.
Praise Leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi balancing economic stability and public welfare, he credited the government with governing responsibly and putting people first in decision-making.
“As the world grappled with rising fuel prices following the conflict in West Asia, India stood on the sidelines. While several countries witnessed increases in petrol and diesel ranging from 20% to nearly 100%, India limited the increase to just 3.2% for petrol and 3.4% for diesel,” Rijiju said in a post on X.
“Even like Brent crude oil Indian public sector oil companies crossed $100/barrel and global markets turned volatile to absorb huge losses for weeks to protect citizens from inflation and economic stress. This is responsible governance. This is leadership that puts people first. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India continues to balance economic stability and public welfare,” he added.
Modi government’s mistake, public will pay the price.
The increase in fuel prices comes at a time of escalating global oil prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in Western Asia. Geopolitical tensions, particularly the US-Israeli and Iranian conflicts that began on February 28 this year, have disrupted global oil supplies and pushed Brent crude oil prices above $100 per barrel.
