Congress slams Centre over rising fuel prices, questions PM for not disclosing seriousness of crisis

Congress leaders criticized the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government for its handling of rising fuel prices, accusing it of "looting" consumers with high taxes and failing to pass on benefits during periods of low global crude prices. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of timing fuel price reductions around elections and resuming hikes after polling concluded. Rajeev Gowda, a Congress research department chairman, argued that rising fuel prices and the depreciating rupee reflected broader economic distress and called for greater transparency from the government regarding its energy policies.