“₹3 shock already delivered,” says Rahul Gandhi on rising petrol-diesel prices

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the central government after petrol and diesel prices were increased across India. Oil companies raised petrol prices by around ₹3.14 per litre and diesel prices by ₹3.11 per litre on May 15, citing disruptions in global oil supply caused by tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. CNG prices were also increased by ₹2 per kilogram, adding further pressure on consumers already dealing with inflation. Reacting to the fuel price hike, Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of burdening the public with rising costs. In a social media post, he said, “The Modi government’s mistake, the public will pay the price. The shock of ₹3 has already come, the remaining recovery will happen in installments.” His remarks targeted the government’s handling of fuel pricing and economic policies amid global uncertainty. The Congress party also attacked the government, warning that higher fuel prices would increase inflation and slow down economic growth. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that when global crude oil prices were previously low, the government failed to pass the benefits on to consumers and instead continued collecting higher taxes. Fuel prices saw significant increases in major metro cities. In Delhi, petrol rose from ₹94.77 to ₹97.77 per litre, while in Mumbai it increased from ₹103.50 to ₹106.68. Similar hikes were reported in Kolkata and Chennai. Experts believe the rise in transportation and fuel costs could also push up the prices of essential goods and services across the country. Apart from fuel prices, Congress also criticized the government’s decision to raise import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15%. The party argued that the move would hurt millions of workers and small businesses connected to India’s jewellery sector, especially MSMEs and artisans. Congress leaders warned that the increased duty could lead to job losses, higher smuggling activities, and severe damage to the jewellery industry, which contributes significantly to India’s GDP and exports.