Chandigarh: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday strongly criticised the Union government over the repeated rise in petrol and diesel prices, alleging that ordinary citizens were being pushed deeper into financial stress due to rising inflation.
Reacting to the latest revision in fuel rates, Cheema said the continuous increase had become unbearable for the common man and demanded immediate relief from the Centre. He accused the central leadership of ignoring ground realities while focusing on publicity-driven politics.
The minister also launched a political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that policies under the current regime were not in favour of farmers, traders, or small business owners. According to him, repeated hikes in fuel prices have directly contributed to rising costs across essential goods and services.
Fuel prices were increased again on Monday by more than two rupees per litre, marking the fourth upward revision within a span of two weeks. Oil marketing companies have attributed the hikes to fluctuations in global crude oil markets and increased import costs, which are being passed on to consumers.
Cheema pointed out that within a short period of just over ten days, petrol and diesel prices have seen a sharp cumulative rise. He also highlighted broader inflation concerns, stating that other sectors such as cooking gas and aviation fuel have also witnessed significant price increases in recent weeks, adding pressure on household budgets and the wider economy.
Taking a sharp political dig, the Punjab minister criticised what he described as “symbolic diplomacy” by the Centre, alleging that attention was being diverted toward image-building exercises rather than addressing domestic economic challenges. He argued that governance should focus on stabilising prices and providing relief to citizens instead of public relations gestures.
The remarks come amid growing political friction between the Centre and opposition-led states over inflation and fuel pricing, with several leaders continuing to raise concerns about the impact of global oil trends on Indian consumers.
As fuel prices remain on an upward trajectory, debates over inflation management and economic policy are expected to intensify further in the coming days.
