Punjab Minister Aman Arora slams Centre over fuel, LPG price hike
Synopsis
Punjab AAP minister Aman Arora has called out the Centre's post-West Bengal election fuel hike — ₹943 on commercial LPG, ₹3.14 on petrol, ₹3.11 on diesel — as deliberate economic burdening of farmers and small businesses. With paddy sowing underway, the diesel increase lands at the worst possible moment for Punjab's agrarian economy.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora slammed the BJP -led Centre on 15 May over fuel price hikes and rising inflation.
Commercial LPG cylinder prices were raised by ₹943 , petrol by ₹3.14/litre , diesel by ₹3.11/litre , and CNG by ₹2 , according to Arora.
Arora alleged the hikes were implemented immediately after the West Bengal elections .
The diesel increase is expected to directly hit Punjab farmers during the critical paddy sowing season .
Arora also cited unfulfilled BJP promises: ₹15 lakh per account, two crore jobs , and doubling of farmers' income.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Friday, 15 May launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government over successive fuel price increases and rising inflation, alleging that the hikes have pushed ordinary citizens, farmers, and small businesses into financial distress while benefiting a select group of corporate interests.
What Arora Said
Speaking to the media in Chandigarh, Arora said the entire country is witnessing the suffering caused by rising inflation despite the tall promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before coming to power 12 years ago. He described the latest round of price increases as a “shameful gift” to citizens.
“The BJP government has once again burdened common people, farmers and small businesses with rising fuel prices and inflation,” Arora said. “The BJP talks about public welfare during elections, but after winning votes, it starts looting the hard-earned money of the people.”
The Specific Price Hikes
Arora pointed to a series of increases that followed the West Bengal elections. According to him, the Centre raised the price of commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders by ₹943, dealing what he described as a severe blow to small businesses and traders. Simultaneously, petrol prices were raised by ₹3.14 per litre, diesel by ₹3.11 per litre, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by ₹2.
Impact on Punjab Farmers
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president, who also holds a Cabinet portfolio, highlighted the timing of the diesel hike in relation to the agricultural calendar. He warned that the increase would directly affect farming operations during the critical paddy sowing season, when irrigation demands are at their peak.
“Farmers require thousands of litres of water and fuel for irrigation during paddy sowing. The increase in diesel prices will directly affect their agricultural operations and increase their financial burden,” Arora said.
BJP's Unfulfilled Promises, Arora Argues
Arora also revisited BJP's pre-election commitments, citing the party's promises to deposit ₹15 lakh into every citizen's bank account, generate two crore jobs, and double farmers' income. He argued that instead of fulfilling these pledges, the government has consistently increased the financial burden on the very constituencies it claimed to champion.
This comes amid a broader pattern of Opposition-ruled states pushing back against Central fuel pricing decisions, with AAP governments in both Punjab and Delhi having previously clashed with the Centre on taxation and subsidy policies. The timing of the hike — immediately after a state election — has drawn particular criticism from multiple political quarters.
Point of View
Not just households, and is harder to offset through subsidies. What mainstream coverage often misses is that Punjab's paddy sowing calendar makes the diesel hike structurally more damaging here than in most other states. The Centre has not responded publicly to these specific figures, and that silence is itself a political signal.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What fuel price hikes did Punjab Minister Aman Arora criticise?
Arora criticised a set of Central government price increases that included a ₹943 rise in commercial LPG cylinder prices, a ₹3.14 per litre hike in petrol, a ₹3.11 per litre increase in diesel, and a ₹2 rise in CNG prices. He alleged these hikes were implemented immediately after the West Bengal elections.
Why is the diesel price hike particularly concerning for Punjab farmers?
The hike coincides with the paddy sowing season, when farmers require large volumes of diesel for irrigation and field operations. Arora said the increase will directly raise input costs for farmers at one of the most fuel-intensive points in the agricultural calendar.
What BJP election promises did Arora reference?
Arora cited three key BJP pre-election commitments: depositing ₹15 lakh into every citizen's bank account, creating two crore jobs, and doubling farmers' income. He argued none of these have been fulfilled, and that fuel price hikes contradict the party's stated welfare agenda.
Has the Central government responded to these allegations?
No official Central government response to Arora's specific allegations was available at the time of this report. The BJP has not publicly addressed the claims about post-election timing of the fuel price increases.
