Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Friday, 15 May launched a pointed attack on the Indian National Congress, accusing the opposition of exploiting global fuel price volatility for political gain while ignoring India's comparatively restrained price adjustments during an ongoing West Asia-driven energy crisis.

Bhandari's Charge Against Congress

Posting on X, Bhandari accused Congress of seeking political opportunity in every global crisis. 'The Congress Party should be ashamed of itself to politicise everything! Congress is a party which always looks at political opportunity in any global crisis; only to have egg on their face!' he wrote.

Bhandari cited data to back his claim, arguing that despite Brent crude staying above $100 per barrel following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, India had recorded only a 3.5 per cent rise in petrol and diesel prices after 76 days of stable rates. 'This is a time for economic patriotism. 140 crore Indians are with PM Narendra Modi and the Congress yet again is getting exposed because of its desperate politics!' he claimed.

Global Fuel Price Comparisons

Bhandari drew a direct comparison with other countries, stating that fuel prices had surged sharply across the world during the same period: Pakistan: +55 per cent, Malaysia: +56 per cent, US: +45 per cent, UAE: +52 per cent, China: +23 per cent, and France: +31 per cent. India's 3.5 per cent adjustment, he argued, stood in stark contrast.

Amit Malviya's Detailed Analysis

BJP IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya separately shared a detailed breakdown on X, describing India as a 'striking exception' amid the global oil shock. Malviya noted that between 23 February and 15 May, countries including Myanmar, Malaysia, Pakistan, the UAE, the United States, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan saw fuel price increases ranging from single digits to over 100 per cent in some cases for diesel.

According to Malviya's post, India recorded a petrol price increase of 3.2 per cent and a diesel price increase of 3.4 per cent over the same period. He noted that only Saudi Arabia saw no change, attributable to subsidy structures, while India among major market economies registered the lowest rise.

Oil Marketing Companies and Under-Recoveries

Malviya further stated that Indian public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), which account for nearly 90 per cent of retail fuel sales, kept prices largely unchanged for approximately 76 days despite rising crude costs, absorbing under-recoveries estimated at nearly ₹1,000 crore per day.

The ₹3 per litre revision announced on 15 May marked the first price change in nearly four years, representing a modest 3.5 per cent adjustment on an approximately ₹95 per litre base. 'The story here is not merely about a ₹3 increase. The story is that while much of the world adjusted through increases of 10 per cent, 20 per cent, 50 per cent, and in some cases nearly 90 per cent, India limited the impact on its citizens to just over 3 per cent,' Malviya said.

The Broader Political Context

The BJP's counter-offensive comes amid a wider political debate over fuel pricing and the government's response to crude oil volatility triggered by the West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Malviya also underscored the downstream impact of fuel price containment, noting that petrol and diesel costs affect transport, food inflation, manufacturing, logistics, and household budgets. 'Containing fuel volatility is also about containing inflation,' he said. How the Congress responds to the BJP's data-driven rebuttal is expected to shape the next phase of this political exchange.