Siddaramaiah cites excise duty hike on fuel, mocks BJP for their campaign on price rise
Last Updated: Apr 07, 2025, 07:10:00 PM IST
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP's protest campaign, coinciding with a central excise duty hike on petrol and diesel. He accused Prime Minister Modi of exposing the BJP's hypocrisy and blamed the Union Government's economic policies for rising fuel prices. Siddaramaiah challenged BJP leaders to address the price hikes or face public anger, highlighting the impact on essential goods.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday took a dig at the Opposition BJP for launching a campaign on a day the Centre hiked the excise duty on petrol and diesel . "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exposed the hypocrisy of the so-called ‘ Janaakrosha Yatre ’ launched by BJP leaders in Karnataka, by himself increasing the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas. He has, in effect, confirmed the truth we've been saying all along — that these price hikes are the direct result of the Union Government’s anti-people economic policies," the CM said in a statement.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), however, clarified that the raise in excise duty would not alter the retail prices of petrol and diesel, and they will sell at retail rates as before.
"I would like to know what the BJP leaders in Karnataka have to say about the fresh hike in excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2, and the ₹50 increase in the price of a cooking gas cylinder.
Even though crude oil prices are falling in the international market, the Union Government continues to raise fuel prices . BJP leaders owe the people of Karnataka an explanation," Siddaramaiah said.
Anyone with basic economic knowledge understands that the consistent rise in petrol, diesel, and cooking gas prices is the root cause behind the increase in the cost of essentials — from rice, pulses, fish, meat, vegetables to hotel food, he said.
"Yet, BJP leaders are trying to shift the blame onto us. But now, Prime Minister Modi himself has exposed their bluff.
" Live Events Effective April 1, the Congress regime in Karnataka hiked the sales tax on diesel increasing the pump prices of diesel by Rs 2 per litre.
Siddaramaiah, however, said the BJP leaders, "who have embarked on this so-called ‘Janaakrosha Yatre’ now have only two options: either pressure the Prime Minister to roll back the price hikes, or end their farce and return home.
If they choose to continue this drama, they will surely face the real anger of the people.
The Cabinet has approved a Rs 7,145.14 crore, 117.7-km access-controlled greenfield highway between Kanpur and Kabrai on NH-34 in Uttar Pradesh. The BOT toll project is designed to cut travel time from 3.5 hours to 1.5 hours, strengthen links to the Kabrai mining belt and Bundelkhand corridor, and lower logistics friction for freight, construction material and agricultural movement.
NHAI has launched Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling at Manoharpura Toll Plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur section of NH-48 in Rajasthan. The barrier-free FASTag and ANPR system matters because it cuts toll-stop idling on a busy highway corridor, but users now need proper FASTag balance and must clear any e-notice within 72 hours to avoid double charges.
India has reset windfall-linked export duties from July 1, 2026 by raising the levy on petrol exports to Rs 4 per litre while cutting diesel and aviation turbine fuel export duties to Rs 8.50 and Rs 7.50 per litre respectively. The move matters because it changes refining economics, export incentives and the downstream pressure points that can eventually shape domestic fuel availability, airline costs and broader transport pricing.
State-run oil companies cut the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder price by Rs 183.50 from July 1, 2026 and reduced aviation turbine fuel by Rs 5 per litre to about Rs 110 in Delhi. The move offers relief to restaurants, hotels and airlines, but household LPG, petrol and diesel users are still waiting.
