Congress targets Centre, takes ‘inflation man’ swipe at PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Congress on Tuesday upped the ante in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central authorities after petrol and diesel costs have been hiked by round 90 paise per litre, marking the second gas value enhance in lower than per week following the top of a virtually four-year freeze by state-run oil firms.Sharing a publish on its official X account, the grand previous social gathering stated, “The ‘Inflation Man’ Modi’s whip has lashed out on the public once more. Petrol and diesel have been hiked by 90 paise.” “That is only the start. The Inflation Man will extract much more now, as a result of the elections are over,” it added.“Modi has jacked up costs by 4 rupees within the final 4 days. With this enhance, petrol within the nation has reached 109 rupees and diesel 96 rupees,” the publish additional stated.Gasoline costs rise for second timeThe most recent enhance pushed petrol costs in New Delhi to Rs 98.64 per litre from Rs 97.77, whereas diesel charges climbed to Rs 91.58 from Rs 90.67, based on PTI sources.This comes days after state-run oil advertising and marketing firms raised petrol and diesel costs by Rs 3 per litre on Friday, the primary revision in over 4 years, amid rising world crude oil costs linked to the continued Iran battle and disruptions across the Strait of Hormuz.The charges proceed to differ throughout states due to variations in value-added tax (VAT). In Mumbai, petrol now prices Rs 107.59 per litre and diesel Rs 94.08. In Kolkata, petrol costs rose to Rs 109.70 and diesel to Rs 96.07 per litre, whereas in Chennai, petrol is now priced at Rs 104.49 per litre and diesel at Rs 96.11.CNG costs additionally elevatedCompressed Pure Gasoline (CNG) costs have additionally seen a number of hikes this month. On Might 15, CNG costs have been raised by Rs 2 per kg in cities together with Delhi and Mumbai, whereas one other enhance of Re 1 per kg adopted on Sunday.International crude oil costs have surged greater than 50 per cent since US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation disrupted delivery flows by means of the Strait of Hormuz, one of many world’s most important oil transit routes.Regardless of the sharp rise in crude costs, retail gas charges in India had remained frozen for months. The federal government had earlier stated the freeze was aimed toward shielding shoppers from world power shocks.Earlier on Monday, Union petroleum and pure gasoline minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated India efficiently averted any scarcity of crude oil, LPG and pipeline pure gasoline regardless of two main world conflicts disrupting worldwide power markets over the previous 4 years.Addressing media individuals after attending a DISHA committee assembly in Varanasi, Puri stated, “at present, the battle in West Asia is nearing 80 days. Earlier, the Russia-Ukraine battle started in Feb 2022. These are two main wars inside 4 years, and each created large disruptions within the world power sector.”Nevertheless, opposition events alleged that gas costs have been intentionally saved unchanged till elections in key states concluded.Following Tuesday’s revision, petrol and diesel costs have reached their highest ranges since Might 2022. Gasoline costs had largely remained unchanged since April 2022, aside from a one-time discount of Rs 2 per litre on petrol and diesel introduced in March 2024 forward of the Lok Sabha elections.
