Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra mocked the Prime Minister for traveling abroad for a five-nation trip while the country faces a fuel crisis. He alleged that the decision was politically timed, stating, “Take votes first, then raise prices.” Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot supported this view, alleging that fuel prices were intentionally kept unchanged during the election period to secure votes.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy defended the government’s actions, stating the hike was unavoidable due to the global energy crisis. He urged the public to understand the circumstances, noting that no domestic issue was responsible. He alleged that opposition parties were trying to provoke people and spread misinformation. Mr. Reddy claimed that fuel prices had increased by up to 40 percent in countries like the U.S. and argued that implementing welfare programs would become difficult if government revenue declined.

Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai criticized the Centre for passing economic burdens onto citizens while benefiting select interests. He questioned why the nation gained no benefit from cheap oil imports from Russia during previous low-price periods. Mr. Rai urged the government to clarify its priorities and roll back what he termed burdensome policies. He recalled earlier commitments that company losses would be covered to prevent such rate rises.

The Bharatiya Janata Party defended the hike, claiming India shielded citizens from the global oil shock for over two months. They highlighted that the limited and calibrated increase kept the price rise to approximately 3%, one of the lowest among major economies. This comes despite mounting losses suffered by oil marketing companies due to global crude price spikes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously suggested measures to reduce consumption, including carpooling and using metro services, to conserve foreign exchange reserves.

Impact on Consumers and Future Outlook

The immediate response from consumers has been significant, with many vehicle owners shifting towards CNG as a more affordable option. This sudden surge in demand has created heavy pressure on CNG stations, leading to long queues and supply challenges in areas like Jalna, Nagpur, and Dharashiv. In Aurangabad, residents like cab driver Ajay Kanse have responded by increasing fares from ₹11 to ₹13 per km. With crude oil shipments still not reaching the country smoothly despite expectations of easing conflicts, the government faces continued pressure. If fuel prices remain volatile or increase further, the projected rise in transportation costs will likely push up the prices of all essential commodities. This trend threatens to exacerbate inflation, potentially leading to sustained public unrest and further political criticism ahead of future electoral cycles.