Kharge slams fuel hike as leadership failure, says diesel triggers cascading inflation on households and farmers

Kharge claims India had to “beg for permission”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Centre over Friday’s petrol and diesel price increase, calling it a “Modi-government-made crisis” driven by “leadership crisis” and lack of vision. He argued that diesel price rises create a cascading inflation effect reaching industries, household budgets and farmers, while also questioning India’s energy strategy and foreign-policy handling amid the West Asia conflict. Kharge cited reports about Russia oil waivers requiring US “allow/permission”, contrasting it with Rijiju’s defense.