Fuel prices hiked for 7th consecutive day: Petrol touches 86.09 in Mumbai, Diesel at 74.76

Prices of petrol and diesel touched record highs in Mumbai and Delhi on Saturday as Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) hiked prices for the seventh consecutive day.

As of 6 am today, petrol is being sold at Rs 86.09 per litre (increased by Rs 0.16 per litre) in Mumbai, while diesel spurted to a new high of Rs. 74.76 per litre (increased by Rs 0.22 per litre).

In comparison, petrol was sold at Rs 85.93 per litre and diesel at Rs 74.54 per litre on Friday.

Meanwhile in Delhi, the price of petrol has been increased to Rs 78.68 per litre, while diesel is being retailed at Rs. 70.42 per litre. On August 31, the price for petrol was Rs. 78.52 per litre in Delhi and diesel was sold at Rs. 70.21.

There has been a surge in fuel prices since August 16 after the rupee hit a record low of 71 against the US dollar.

Amid the rising oil prices, Congress accused the Narendra Modi-led government of selling petrol and diesel to other nations at far cheaper rates than to Indian citizens.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged the people, who were suffering due to the all-time high prices, would give it a befitting reply in elections for this “betrayal”.

The common man was suffering due to spiralling prices of such products and the government had “looted” the country of over Rs 11 lakh crore due to levy of “monstrous taxes”, he said.

“The Modi government is selling cheap petrol and diesel to foreign countries, as Indians suffer due to the all-time high prices. The monstrous taxes being levied by the government have resulted in the skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices. The Modi government has already profited by over Rs 11 lakh crore from draconian taxes on fuel,” Surjewala was quoted as saying.