Party alleges Centre is denying consumers the benefit of lower crude prices; seeks immediate reduction in petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG rates
TFP Bureau, Raipur, July 8,2026: The Chhattisgarh Congress on Wednesday demanded an immediate reduction in the prices of petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG, alleging that the Central government has failed to pass on the benefits of declining international crude oil prices to consumers.
Addressing a press conference, Sushil Anand Shukla, Chairperson of the Chhattisgarh Congress Communication Department, claimed that global crude oil prices have fallen significantly, but retail fuel prices in India remain unchanged, placing an unnecessary financial burden on the public.
Shukla alleged that while international crude oil prices have dropped from around 157 US dollars per barrel to nearly 70 dollars per barrel, consumers continue to pay high prices for petrol and diesel. He claimed that farmers, labourers, traders, industrialists and other sections of society have not benefited from the decline in global crude prices.
The Congress leader further alleged that the Centre, the state government and petroleum companies were benefiting at the expense of consumers by not reducing fuel prices in line with the fall in crude oil rates.
He said lower fuel prices would reduce transportation costs, ease agricultural input expenses and bring down production costs for industries, ultimately helping to curb inflation and lower the prices of essential commodities.
Claiming that crude oil prices have returned to levels prevailing before tensions in West Asia escalated, Shukla alleged that fuel prices were increased swiftly when global crude prices rose but had not been revised downward despite the subsequent decline.
The Congress demanded that the Central government immediately reduce the prices of petrol, diesel, CNG and domestic LPG cylinders to provide relief to consumers and mitigate the impact of rising living costs.
