Fuel Price Hike: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday took a veiled jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government after petrol and diesel prices were hiked by over Rs 3, and emphasised
that his party is the only option for development.
In a post on X, he shared a toon photo of himself riding a bicycle, which is also the symbol of the Samajwadi Party, and slammed the Prime Minister’s call for austerity and restrained consumption. “If you want to move forward, the bicycle is the only option,” he said in the post.
आगे बढ़ना है तो साइकिल ही विकल्प है। pic.twitter.com/FDDpykbGrr
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 15, 2026
His remarks came after petrol prices were hiked by Rs 3.14 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.11 per litre amid rising global crude oil prices and disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Congress also criticised the Centre for the price hike and said, “’Inflation Man’ Modi has once again unleashed the whip on the public today. Petrol and diesel have increased by 3-3 rupees. Meanwhile, CNG prices have also been raised by 2 rupees. Elections over – Modi’s recovery begins.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Kiren Rijiju defended the government’s move to increase fuel prices and said that India has stood out as a “striking exception” amid the global fuel crisis.
“The surge in global fuel prices since the outbreak of the West Asia conflict offers a revealing comparison of how different countries have managed economic shocks. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, and the prolonged disruption of shipments sent Brent crude soaring above $100 per barrel through much of April and early May. Across the world, consumers have felt the impact directly at fuel stations. But India stands out as a striking exception,” Malviya said.
Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Have Been Hiked?
According to government sources, oil marketing companies were suffering losses of more than Rs 1,000 crore per day due to rising global crude prices and disruptions in the international energy supply chain. Officials said the Finance Ministry could no longer absorb the burden of compensating oil companies.
The price hike comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, which have intensified concerns over oil supply disruptions in the Middle East.
PM Modi’s Austerity Call
Addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP in Hyderabad earlier this week, PM Modi said the Centre was trying to shield citizens from the adverse impact of the West Asia conflict and urged people to participate in what he described as a collective effort for economic resilience.
PM Modi said rising pressure on global supply chains due to the conflict had increased the prices of petrol and fertilisers despite various efforts by the government to tackle the situation.
“That’s why, during the global crisis, keeping the country above all else, we have to take resolutions,” the Prime Minister said.
He urged citizens to use metro rail services wherever available, adopt carpooling, increase the use of electric vehicles, use railway services for parcel transport and reduce petrol and diesel consumption.
“We have to save foreign exchange by any means,” he said while also calling for postponing foreign travel and gold purchases for one year.
PM Modi further said that the work-from-home systems adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic should be revived wherever possible.
