CHANDIGARH, MAY 26 — A steep upward adjustment in petroleum pricing over the last 10 days has drawn strong criticism from the Punjab administration, with senior leaders characterizing the measures as an unnecessary burden on the public.
The state government noted that a sequence of four consecutive price changes between May 15 and May 25 added over ₹8 per liter to retail fuel costs. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the rising expenditures create severe vulnerabilities for transporters, small merchants, and middle-class households at a time when domestic inflation remains high.
“The Centre’s continuous increase in petrol and diesel prices over the past few days has exposed the BJP Government’s inability to control inflation,” Cheema noted during a briefing.
According to fiscal data shared by the state, petrol rose by ₹3.29 on May 15, followed by increments of ₹0.96 on May 19, ₹0.94 on May 23, and ₹2.87 on May 25. Diesel rates experienced mirrored jumps during the exact same intervals, causing cumulative strain for logistics providers and automated farm operations right as major summer crop planting begins.
“Diesel prices have also risen by nearly ₹8 per litre within ten days,” Cheema added. “Farmers depend heavily on diesel for tractors and agricultural operations. At a time when they need support, the BJP Government is increasing their financial burden.”
Other administration officials maintained that structural trade policies at the central level appear designed to serve macroeconomic corporate interests rather than protect working-class consumers. Pointing to parallel surges in commercial gas cylinders and aviation fuel, representatives from the ruling provincial party asserted that the local electorate will likely express its dissatisfaction with these financial pressures during the upcoming civic body polls.
