The Punjab Congress and AAP on Saturday hit out at the Centre after the third fuel price hike in just nine days, saying it has increased the burden on households.
On Saturday, petrol and diesel prices were increased by 87 to 91 paise per litre. With this, the total increase in retail fuel prices has reached nearly Rs 5 per litre in less than 10 days, as state-owned companies responded to rising international crude oil prices.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring attacked the Centre over the latest hike and called it the “real economics” of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
“First create headlines with symbolic simplicity, then quietly pass the burden onto ordinary citizens through rising fuel prices. PM Modi showcases a ‘two-car convoy’ for cameras,” Warring said in a post on X.
He said whenever diesel prices rise, inflation spreads across the economy. Transport, vegetables, milk, farming, logistics, and daily essentials all become more expensive, he added.
“This government has mastered optics, not relief. For the BJP, perception management comes first. For citizens, survival is becoming expensive. ‘Achhe Din’ for PR agencies, inflation and hardship for the people,” Warring said, taking a dig at the BJP.
AAP leader and MLA Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal also criticised the BJP-led government over the latest fuel price hike. He said he had earlier predicted that fuel prices would rise again, and that prediction has now come true. “Where will farmers go? Where will ordinary citizens go?” he asked.
Dhaliwal claimed that fuel prices would continue to rise and described the BJP-led Centre as “anti-farmer” and “anti-people”. Petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre each on May 15 and by around 90 paise per litre on May 19. The back-to-back hikes come after a long freeze in retail fuel prices and amid rising crude oil prices in the global market.
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