Fuel prices up after polls, at 4-year high

New Delhi: State-run oil marketing companies on Monday hiked petrol price by 17 paise a litre and diesel by 21 paise a litre after a 19-day pre-Karnataka poll hiatus, drawing criticism from Opposition parties. With the latest hike, diesel prices have touched a record high while petrol is at a 56-month peak.  

The oil marketing companies had stopped passing on the increase in international prices of crude oil to consumers during run-up to elections in Karnataka where voting took place on Saturday. Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 74.80 a litre from Rs 74.63 a litre while diesel rates were increased to Rs 66.14 a litre from Rs 65.93 a litre. In Mumbai, petrol price was increased to Rs 82.65 a litre from Rs 82.48 a litre and diesel to Rs 70.43 a litre from Rs 70.20 a litre. In Kolkata, petrol will now cost Rs 77.50 a litre from Rs 77.32 a litre and in Chennai it will cost Rs 77.61 a litre from Rs 77.43 a litre. Opposition parties criticised the sudden increase in fuel prices after a gap of 19 days and alleged that the government is interfering with the working of the state-run oil marketing companies despite petrol and diesel prices being decontrolled. “Karnataka finishes voting, fuel prices rise to a 4 year high! The key principle of Modinomics: fool as many people as you can, as often as you can,” tweeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi.  

“As soon as Karnataka election is over, government has decided to increase petrol and diesel prices. Then why does government pretend that it is not interfering in determination of fuel prices? Aren’t they taking the people for a ride?” tweeted Congress leader Ahmed Patel.