Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 15: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday defended the Centre’s decision to increase petrol and diesel prices, stating that India had managed to limit the hike to a marginal level despite sharp global fuel price surges triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Rijiju said the government had acted responsibly to protect citizens from severe inflationary pressure while maintaining economic stability.
“As the world battled rising fuel costs after the West Asia conflict, India stood apart. While several countries witnessed petrol and diesel hikes ranging from 20 per cent to nearly 100 per cent, India limited the increase to just 3.2 per cent for petrol and 3.4 per cent for diesel,” Rijiju said in a post on social media platform X.
He further stated that despite Brent crude prices crossing USD 100 per barrel and global energy markets becoming volatile, India’s public sector oil companies absorbed heavy losses for several weeks to shield consumers from rising costs.
“This is governance with responsibility. This is leadership that puts people first,” Rijiju said, adding that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India continues to balance public welfare with economic stability.
The minister also shared comparative figures highlighting fuel price increases in other countries amid the global energy crisis. According to the data shared, Malaysia recorded an 89.7 per cent increase in petrol prices and a 112.7 per cent rise in diesel prices, while fuel prices in the United States rose by around 44 per cent for petrol and 48.1 per cent for diesel.
In China, petrol prices reportedly increased by 21.7 per cent and diesel by 23.7 per cent.
The remarks came shortly after the Centre announced a Rs 3 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices across the country on Friday.
Following the revision, petrol prices in Delhi rose from Rs 94.77 to Rs 97.77 per litre, while diesel prices increased from Rs 87.67 to Rs 90.67 per litre.
The latest fuel price hike follows a sharp increase in global crude oil prices linked to escalating tensions and supply concerns arising from the conflict in West Asia.