As petrol and diesel prices were raised by ₹2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday (May 25, 2026), marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks, Opposition leaders stepped up their attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of burdening consumers and failing to shield the public from rising costs.

While Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the increase as “daily robbery”, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi “mehangai manav” [inflation man].

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned why India was not sourcing cheaper crude oil from Russia and Iran.

The latest increase took cumulative hikes in petrol and diesel prices since May 15 to nearly ₹7.5 per litre, pushing fuel prices to their highest levels since May 2022 and raising concerns over inflation and transportation costs.

In a post on X, Mr. Kharge said the “daily assault of fuel loot” was continuing, noting that this was the fourth hike in ten days. “The Modi government has sprinkled petrol to burn the savings of common people,” the Congress chief said.

Mr. Kharge alleged that despite international crude oil prices not witnessing an increase comparable to that seen during the UPA years, retail fuel prices have risen sharply under the present government. He claimed petrol prices have increased from ₹71.41 per litre in 2014 to ₹102.12 in 2026, while diesel prices rose from ₹56.71 to ₹95.20 during the same period.

“profit over people”

The Congress president also linked Monday’s (May 25) hike to gains in shares of public sector oil companies and alleged that the government prioritised “profit over people”.

“Every fuel price hike is another blow to household budgets,” he said, adding that farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises were among those most affected. “We repeat. Who is benefitting from this daily robbery?” Mr. Kharge asked.

‘Mehangai manav’

Mr. Gandhi also attacked the Prime Minister, alleging that fuel prices were being increased in “instalments”. “‘Mehangai manav’ Modi strikes again. He raises petrol and diesel prices in instalments—ensuring that your pockets are quietly picked, bit by bit,” he said in a post on X.

Mr Gandhi claimed that he had warned of an impending economic storm, but the government had delayed the increases because of elections. “‘Mehangai manav’ Modi has just one job: promises during elections, and attacking people’s pockets at other times,” he said.

Mr. Kejriwal said rising inflation was imposing hardship on “140 crore people” and asked what compulsion prevented the government from purchasing cheaper fuel. “Russia and Iran are offering us cheaper and sufficient oil and gas. Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi not buying cheap oil from them?” he asked in a video message on X.

Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak widened the criticism beyond fuel prices, raising concerns over oil supply disruptions and the economy. She asked what the government did to bring back ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.