The opposition parties on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after petrol, diesel and CNG prices were hiked, accusing the Centre of burdening the common man soon after the conclusion of elections.
The Congress took a swipe at the Prime Minister, calling him “Mehngai Man Modi” and alleging that the government had begun its “recovery” from the public after the assembly elections concluded. Mehngai translates to Inflation.
“Elections over, Modi’s recovery begins,” the Congress said, accusing the BJP-led Centre of imposing additional financial strain on citizens already grappling with inflation and rising living costs.
Petrol and diesel prices were increased on Friday by Rs 3 per litre after state-owned oil firms ended a four-year record hiatus in rate revision. In Delhi, the petrol price was hiked to Rs 97.77 per litre from Rs 94.77. Diesel now costs Rs 90.67 as against Rs 89.67 per litre previously. The increase comes 16 days after assembly elections concluded in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The Trinamool Congress slammed the move, calling it “pathetically predictable” that fuel prices would rise after the polls, and questioned whether the newly sworn-in BJP government in West Bengal would reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol to ease the burden on people.
“First they loot your vote, then they kick you where it hurts. Pathetically predictable. Diesel and petrol prices hiked. Will Bengal Govt reduce VAT on petrol & diesel now that there’s a Delhi-controlled government which doesn’t have to worry about funds being blocked by the Centre?” Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien asked.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav shared a sarcastic post, saying, “If you want to move forward, the bicycle is the only option”. He shared a caricature of himself riding a bicycle, along with the caption, “We had already said that we will continue travelling by bicycle!” The bicycle is also the party symbol of the Samajwadi Party.
Fuel prices had remained unchanged throughout the polling period despite a sharp surge in international crude oil prices triggered by the conflict in West Asia.
The basket of crude oil imported by India averaged around USD 69 per barrel in February, before the outbreak of the war in West Asia. In the months that followed, prices climbed to an average of USD 113-114 per barrel.
Amid the rise in global oil prices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to cut down on fuel consumption and make greater use of public transport and work-from-home options to help reduce the country’s foreign exchange outgo on oil imports.
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Published On:
May 15, 2026 08:21 IST
