Amidst the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, a news is spreading rapidly like wildfire on social media and in some reports. It is being claimed that as soon as the elections end on April 29, there is going to be a huge increase in the prices of petrol and diesel in the country by ₹ 25 to ₹ 28. This news has increased the concern of the common man, but is this really going to happen? Now the Government of India itself has come forward and clarified its position on this news. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has termed these claims as completely false.
In fact, citing an alleged report of Kotak Institutional Equities, it is being claimed that the prices of crude oil in the international market have crossed $120 per barrel. In such a situation, the difference between domestic prices and global prices has increased, which may create pressure to increase prices in future. On this basis, speculations were being made about a big increase in prices.
The government called the news ‘FAKE NEWS’
As soon as this news went viral, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas immediately took action and termed it as completely fake news. The government issued an official clarification saying that no proposal for such increase in the prices of petrol and diesel is under consideration with the government. The Ministry said in strong words that such news is being spread with the aim of creating fear and panic among the citizens, which are completely misleading and mischievous.
India made a record in the world
The government presented a big fact in its clarification that India is probably the only country in the world where the prices of petrol and diesel have not increased in the last 4 years despite international instability. The government and oil companies have taken several steps so that the burden of rising crude oil prices in the international market does not fall directly on Indian citizens.
Why do such rumors spread?
Often in the election environment, there is speculation that oil companies will increase prices after the elections to compensate for the losses. Crude oil crossing $120 in the international market gives further fuel to these rumours. However, the government has made it clear that it is making every possible effort to protect the public from inflation.
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
