Fuel price hikes 2026: Congress calls Modi ‘Inflation Man’

Why the latest fuel hike has turned political

Congress stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi-led government after a fresh round of fuel price increases, arguing that repeated hikes are adding to inflationary pressure. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge warned that what he described as “fuel loot” would have a cascading effect across the economy. He said the impact would be felt most by the poor and the middle class, as higher transport and energy costs spill over into everyday expenses. The party also linked the timing of the increases to broader household budget stress. The criticism came as petrol and diesel prices were raised again, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks, as reported in the updates cited.

Kharge’s ‘fuel loot’ warning and the inflation argument

Kharge framed the repeated hikes as a “daily assault” on consumers and asked who benefits from what he called a “daily robbery.” In his post on X, he said the fourth hike in 10 days showed the “fuel loot” was “not over yet.” He alleged that petrol had risen by Rs 7.35 per litre and diesel by Rs 7.53 per litre during the recent 10-day period. Kharge also used a sharp metaphor, saying the “Modi govt has sprinkled petrol to burn the savings of common people.” The Congress chief argued that fuel price increases do not remain limited to fuel bills and can influence costs across the economy.

Rahul Gandhi revives the ‘Inflation Man’ label

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi using the phrase “mehengai manav” (inflation man), calling him “Inflation Man.” Gandhi alleged that the government raises petrol and diesel prices “in instalments” to reduce public backlash while steadily increasing the burden. In his post on X, Gandhi wrote that prices are increased “so that your pockets keep getting picked quietly, little by little.” He also claimed that Modi’s approach is to make promises during elections and “attack people’s pockets” afterwards. Congress leaders repeated the phrase across multiple posts as part of their broader critique of recurring price revisions.

What the reports said about petrol and diesel changes

The cited reports described Monday’s petrol and diesel increase as the fourth rise in less than two weeks. One update said petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday, with state-owned fuel retailers continuing to pass on rising international oil prices to consumers. Separately, Kharge’s post cited a cumulative increase of Rs 7.35 per litre for petrol and Rs 7.53 per litre for diesel over 10 days. Congress also highlighted longer-term changes, with Kharge pointing out that the Modi government has increased petrol prices by 43% and diesel by 68% since 2014. The party argued that repeated upward revisions add to inflation concerns for households.

CNG in focus: fourth increase in less than two weeks

Alongside petrol and diesel, Congress highlighted CNG price changes in Delhi, calling it another hit to commuters and transport-dependent businesses. The updates said CNG price in the national capital was hiked by ₹2 per kg on Tuesday, described as the fourth increase in less than two weeks. Congress claimed on X that CNG was made ₹2 more expensive and that CNG prices had been increased four times in the last 12 days. Within the cited material, two different cumulative figures were mentioned: one line said the cumulative hike since May 15 was ₹4 per kg, while another Congress post claimed CNG prices had increased by ₹6 in the last 12 days. The political messaging centred on the frequency of revisions rather than a single consolidated figure.

Surjewala’s claim on petrol crossing Rs 110 per litre

AICC general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala said petrol price had crossed Rs 110 per litre for the first time in 78 years after independence, as quoted in the provided text. Congress used the statement to underline what it called the seriousness of current price levels. The party’s leadership argued that high fuel prices are felt directly in household spending and indirectly through transportation costs. The criticism also sought to tie the current situation to policy choices at the Centre. The statements were presented as part of a coordinated political attack during a period of repeated revisions.

What Congress accused the government of

Congress accused the Prime Minister of “looting the public for his rich friends,” repeating the allegation in its X posts while criticising the price hikes. The party described the increases as a “daily robbery” on consumers and portrayed the pattern of revisions as deliberate. The language used in the posts was confrontational, including references to a “whip” lashing out at the public. While the government response was not included in the provided text, Congress’s messaging focused on public affordability and the immediate impact of day-to-day price changes.

Key numbers mentioned in the reports

The following table summarises the factual claims and figures cited in the provided material, separating retail price moves from political assertions.

Market impact: where fuel hikes typically transmit

Fuel is a broad input cost across transport, logistics, and daily commuting, and Congress framed the repeated hikes as a trigger for wider inflation. Kharge explicitly said the effect would be “cascading” across the economy, implying knock-on pressure on goods and services. The party’s argument also rests on the frequency of revisions, with references to a fourth hike within about 10 to 12 days for petrol-diesel and CNG. Even when the immediate increase is measured in rupees per litre or per kg, the cumulative change can influence household monthly budgets, especially for high-frequency users such as commuters. In political terms, the party positioned the moves as a consumer issue with a direct “pocket” impact.

Why the story matters and what to watch next

The episode underlines how fuel price revisions quickly become a focal point for inflation debates and political messaging. Congress leaders used both near-term cumulative figures and longer-term percentage changes since 2014 to build a narrative around affordability. The repeated references to phased increases suggest the opposition will track further revisions closely and continue to raise the issue publicly. What happens next will depend on the next set of retail price decisions and whether the run of increases continues, as the party claimed it would.