Consumer prices have surged across India in recent days, with milk up 3%, wheat and rice each rising about 12.5%, vegetables jumping by as much as 25%, and edible oil climbing roughly 12%, amid a fresh round of petrol and diesel price increases, opposition party Congress says. The party alleges that within the past 10 days manufacturers across sectors have started changing price tags overnight and passing additional costs directly to buyers, intensifying inflationary pressure on households.
Congress criticizes the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing it of long-term profiteering from petroleum products. Party leaders say fuel margins have been kept high since the 2022 outbreak of the Ukraine war and that domestic petrol and diesel prices were not reduced even when international crude softened. They argue that recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia have again pushed up crude prices, providing cover for renewed domestic increases.
The party points to company earnings to support its claims, saying India’s three major state-controlled oil firms together earned Rs 78,000 crore in the last financial year — including about Rs 20,000 crore in the final quarter alone. Congress argues that because these companies pay dividends to the central government, higher corporate profits translate into increased government receipts, creating an incentive to maintain elevated retail fuel prices rather than cut them for consumers.
As an example of the alleged mismatch between global and domestic pricing, Congress notes that Indian oil firms reportedly bought crude at about $65 a barrel before the recent conflicts; by their calculation, that should have translated into far lower retail prices than what consumers have been charged. According to the party, domestic pump prices did not fall below roughly Rs 105 per litre even when international rates eased.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge blasted the administration, saying, “This government has no leadership. Many neighbouring countries have reduced petroleum prices to ease public hardship, yet no decision has been taken here — there is a leadership crisis.” Rahul Gandhi also launched attacks on the government, accusing it of offering trivial responses while ordinary people face mounting economic strain.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/congress-slams-centre-over-rising-fuel-and-essential-goods-prices/
Category: অসম,উত্তৰ-পূব,দেশ,বাণিজ্য,শীর্ষ সংবাদ
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-05-24 09:19:00
