Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Congress Party, criticized the BJP-led Central Government on Saturday following the latest increase in fuel prices, accusing it of gradually draining the earnings of ordinary citizens.
In a post on X, Kharge pointed out that petrol prices have crossed the Rs 100 per liter barrier in several regions. He accused the government of amassing significant revenue through central taxes without providing financial relief to the public.
Kharge stated that the Center generates Rs 1,000 crore daily from central taxes on petrol and diesel, yet its demand remains insatiable. He condemned the government’s pricing strategy, noting that when international crude oil prices previously declined, the benefits were not passed on to consumers.
He wrote: “Petrol has now crossed Rs 100. This time around. Looting the public’s earnings in installments! The BJP’s appetite isn’t satisfied even after slapping a central tax of Rs 1000 crore daily on petrol-diesel. When international prices were low, they didn’t pass on the benefits to the people–instead, they looted them relentlessly. When the crisis hit, they dove headfirst into elections, and after the elections, they preached sacrifice.”
Kharge challenged the government’s assertion that fuel prices in India are lower than in other countries, providing examples of international governments that intervened to ease the burden on consumers during the recent West Asian energy crisis.
He listed measures including Italy cutting excise duties on fuel, Australia reducing excise duty to lower petrol prices by around ₹17 per litre, Germany decreasing taxes on oil reducing prices by ₹17-₹19 per litre, the United Kingdom providing £100 in oil aid to households along with tax cuts on fuel and electricity, and Ireland implementing a €250 million relief package that reduced petrol prices by €0.15 and diesel by €0.20 per litre.
Kharge concluded by demanding transparency from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the increasing revenues. He said: “@narendramodi ji, tell us – Who all are getting a share of this installment-based loot? Why are you so compromised? The real crisis in this government is one of leadership – 140 crore Indians have now figured that out.”
The remarks came amid another hike in fuel prices, marking the third increase in less than 10 days across major metropolitan areas amid ongoing global energy market volatility. Rising fuel costs coincide with calls for conservation in response to the energy crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia and the blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime route.
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