Opposition Slams Centre Over Fuel Price Surge

With crude oil markets rattled by Middle East conflict, Indian consumers are facing repeated fuel price hikes that opposition leaders say were timed to avoid electoral backlash. Parliamentarians from several parties converged on the issue in New Delhi, demanding immediate government intervention. Congress’s Sachin Pilot argued that the administration maintained an artificial calm on the economy throughout the campaign period. Once ballots were counted, he said, officials began citing global uncertainties to justify daily or weekly increases at the pump. Pilot stressed that every rupee added to diesel affects the cost of moving food grains, construction materials and emergency services. Without a concrete subsidy or tax-relief package, he warned, inflation will continue eroding real incomes. Aam Aadmi Party’s Saurabh Bhardwaj pointed to data showing nearly fortnightly revisions since polling ended. He accused the Centre of treating voters as an afterthought once the electoral cycle pauses. Trinamool’s Kunal Ghosh said the government’s piecemeal approach—raising petrol one week, LPG the next—has created confusion in markets and left transporters unsure how to price long-term contracts. Samajwadi Party veteran Pawan Pandey linked the fuel spiral to wider governance failures in Uttar Pradesh, including prolonged electricity outages that force residents to spend more on generators. He said the combination of expensive fuel and unreliable power is driving small businesses to the brink. Market analysts caution that unless diplomatic efforts ease supply concerns, Indian retailers may soon pass on still higher logistics costs to consumers.