India’s state-run oil companies implemented a sharp fuel price hike, raising petrol by ₹2.61 and diesel by ₹2.71 per litre. This marks the fourth steep increase in less than two weeks, pushing petrol past the ₹100 mark in Delhi and up to ₹115.73 in Hyderabad.
The rapid escalation has triggered intense political backlash. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi heavily criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling the strategy an “installment loot” by a “Mehangai Manav” (Inflation Man). He accused the government of freezing prices to secure election votes before passing global burdens directly onto citizens
