New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday urged the Narendra Modi government to reduce fuel prices, arguing that the easing of tensions between the United States and Iran had removed one of the major reasons often cited for inflationary pressures and high energy costs.
In a statement, the opposition party said Indians had repeatedly been told that geopolitical instability in West Asia, particularly the conflict involving Iran, was responsible for rising prices, supply chain disruptions and economic challenges.
“Every price hike, every downturn, and every hardship was blamed not on the government’s policies, but on the tensions in West Asia,” the Congress said, adding that the situation had now changed with hostilities subsiding and a ceasefire taking hold.
The party argued that an improvement in the geopolitical environment was likely to bring down global crude oil prices, stabilize supply chains and ease pressure on energy markets. It maintained that any benefits arising from these developments should be passed on directly to consumers.
“Crude oil prices will come down. Supply chains will normalize. Demand will stabilize. Naturally, the benefits of this should also reach the country’s consumers,” the statement said.
Congress called for cuts in the prices of petrol, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), saying households and businesses had borne the burden of elevated fuel costs for long enough.
The party also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in France for the G7 Summit and related engagements. Questioning whether the government would act swiftly, Congress asked if the Prime Minister would announce relief measures while abroad or if citizens would have to wait for his return.
Fuel prices have remained a politically sensitive issue in India, with opposition parties frequently linking them to inflation and rising household expenses, while the government has often cited global crude prices and international conflicts as key determinants of domestic energy costs.
