Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asked the Centre why fuel prices have increased when global crude oil is cheaper than what it was when the Narendra Modi government came to power 12 years ago.Citing data from the Press Information Bureau, Kharge said on social media that the price of crude oil on May 26, 2014, the day Modi became the prime minister, was $108 per barrel. The price of petrol at the time was Rs 71.5 per litre and diesel Rs 56.7 per litre, the Congress chief said.“Today, the price of crude oil is less than $99 per barrel, but the prices of petrol and diesel have risen to Rs 102.12 and Rs 95.20 per litre, respectively,” he added.Kharge said that in other words, while crude oil had become cheaper as compared to 2014, the price of petrol had increased by about 42.8% and diesel about 67.9%.The Congress chief also said that on May 26, 2014, the value of the Indian rupee was 58.5 against the United States dollar.On Tuesday, the Indian currency traded at 95.6 against the dollar.“Every economist knows that the inflation in petrol and diesel affects every sector,” he said. “From transportation to food items, the burden of inflation on the common man increases. Despite this, the government’s profiteering continues.”He added: “The question is straightforward: when crude oil has become cheaper, why have petrol and diesel become more expensive?”The Congress chief asked why there had been no relief for the public.“हाथ कंगन को आरसी क्या,पढ़े-लिखे को फ़ारसी क्या!”PIB के अधिकृत बयान के अनुसार, आज से ठीक बारह साल पहले 26 मई 2014 को जब प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी ने सत्ता संभाली थी, उस दिन भारतीय basket का कच्चा तेल $108.05 प्रति बैरल था और डॉलर-रुपया exchange rate 58.59 रुपए थी। उस समय… pic.twitter.com/HzqJZhY0wW— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 26, 2026