‘Mehangai manav’ strikes again: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi on fuel hike

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latest fuel price hike, labeling him 'mehangai manav' (inflation man) after petrol and diesel prices increased for the fourth time in under two weeks. On Monday, petrol prices rose by Rs 2.61 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.71, bringing cumulative hikes since May 15 to nearly Rs 7.5 per litre. In Delhi, petrol now costs Rs 102.12 per litre, while diesel is at Rs 95.20, with Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai seeing similar increases. Gandhi accused the government of delaying price revisions until after elections, claiming he had warned of an economic crisis earlier. He stated that Modi had raised fuel prices by Rs 8 only after elections concluded. The opposition leader argued that inflationary pressure would continue to rise, criticizing Modi for making promises during elections while burdening citizens with higher costs otherwise. The fuel price hikes follow increases on May 15, 19, and 23, after a prolonged freeze. Industry sources attributed the rise to surging global crude oil prices, tighter refining margins, and the weakening rupee, which have increased import costs. Global oil prices have climbed since late February due to US-Israeli strikes on Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route. The government has maintained that earlier restraint on fuel price revisions aimed to protect consumers from inflation, while opposition parties argue that delays were politically motivated. State-owned retailers Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum control nearly 90% of India’s fuel retail market. The latest adjustments reflect ongoing global and domestic economic pressures affecting fuel costs.