NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday slammed the PM Modi-led Centre over the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices, alleging that the government was burdening common people despite stable international crude oil prices.In a post on X, Kharge said, “The Daily Assault of FUEL LOOT is not over yet! 4th hike in 10 days !!”He claimed that petrol prices had risen by Rs 7.35 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 7.53 per litre in recent weeks.“Modi Govt has sprinkled Petrol to Burn the Savings of common people,” Kharge said.Targeting the BJP-led government over fuel pricing, the Congress chief said, “Between 2004 and 2014, during the UPA, international crude oil prices increased by 175.34%. During Modi Govt, not even a single cent of international crude oil prices have increased.”“Despite that Modi Govt. has hiked the petrol prices from Rs 71.41 per litre in 2014 to Rs 102.12 per litre in 2026, a rise of 43.01%, and diesel prices from Rs 56.71 per litre to Rs 95.20 per litre, an increase of 67.87%,” he added.Kharge further alleged that the Centre had “looted Rs 43 lakh crore in the last 12 years,” claiming it amounted to “Rs 1000 EVERYDAY!”The Congress president also linked the fuel price hikes to gains in oil marketing company stocks. “With the 4th time rise in Petrol and Diesel prices, today the shares of HPCL, BPCL and IOC rose by 5.8%, 4.44% and 3.90% respectively. Profit over People is BJP’s DNA!” he said.Kharge argued that repeated fuel price hikes were hurting household budgets and affecting several sectors of the economy.“Every fuel price hike is another blow to household budgets, and has a cascading effect on every aspect of the economy. From Farmers to MSMEs, every strata of the society bears the brunt of BJP’s LOOT. We repeat. Who is benefitting from this DAILY ROBBERY?” he said.
