Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent fuel price hike, alleging that rising petrol and diesel costs for ordinary citizens, alongside what he called a ‘free pass’ to industrialist Gautam Adani in the United States, reflected what he described as the government’s ‘compromised model’.
Kharge accused the BJP-led government of lacking economic vision and leadership, claiming that the Prime Minister had failed to manage the economy effectively and should focus on addressing public concerns rather than deflecting responsibility.
His remarks came after state-run oil marketing companies increased petrol and diesel prices by around 90 paise per litre, marking the second hike within a week after nearly four years of price stability.
“Just four days after the previous hike, the Modi government has once again raised fuel prices. While projecting itself as concerned about savings, it is pushing the burden of its failures onto the public,” Kharge said in a post on X.
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He further alleged, “Robbing the common people and giving Adani a free pass in America—this is Modiji’s compromised model.” Kharge was referring to the US Department of Justice’s decision to drop criminal charges against Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani in a high-profile securities and wire fraud case in New York, after prosecutors concluded the allegations could not be sustained.
On India’s crude oil imports from Russia, Kharge said Prime Minister Modi, who often refers to India as a ‘vishwaguru’, had sought extensions from the United States regarding Russian oil purchases, calling it diplomatically undignified.
“If the government claims we are ‘allowed’ to buy oil, then why are common people being burdened with fuel price hikes?” he asked. He further alleged that successive price increases reflected a lack of foresight within the ruling party.
“There is a clear absence of planning and leadership in the BJP,” he said, adding that the government should take collective responsibility and find solutions instead of shifting the burden onto citizens.
Kharge also commented on rising prices of LPG and fertilisers, warning that further inflationary pressures could follow. He accused the government of ignoring warning signs amid global tensions, which he likened to a war-like situation affecting multiple countries.
“The reality is that the Prime Minister has failed on the economic front,” he said. He also questioned the government’s foreign policy outcomes, asking what tangible benefits India had received from recent international visits, including agreements and investments.
Kharge concluded that the government must engage more transparently with the public and address economic challenges collectively, rather than focusing on image-building abroad.
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