Shiv Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, criticized the Centre for raising fuel prices, accusing the government of burdening the public with inflationary pressures. The editorial highlighted a sudden increase of Rs 3 per litre in petrol and diesel prices right after PM Modi and BJP Chief Ministers advocated fuel conservation.
The Thackeray camp alleged that the government deliberately concealed the fuel price hike until the state elections were over. It pointed out the irony of BJP’s claims of shielding India from the impact of the Iran War while fuel prices surged immediately after the elections, following extravagant victory celebrations.
According to the editorial, the government’s newfound concern for fuel conservation and foreign exchange reserves post-elections seems hypocritical, especially after the recent surge in fuel prices and gold import duties. The editorial questioned the government’s handling of the fuel crisis amidst ongoing global economic challenges.
The Shiv Sena criticized the government for escalating inflation by raising fuel prices, impacting essential commodities’ costs and further straining the public’s financial burden. It raised concerns about the potential continuous rise in fuel prices if the Gulf War situation persists, questioning PM Modi’s ability to navigate the crisis effectively.
