The Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has denied claims that it issued an order to raise petrol and diesel prices.

Fuel pricing is a volatile political issue in India, and these reports surfaced amid state elections where fuel costs often influence voter sentiment.

The controversy began when leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) circulated claims that the government intended to increase petrol prices by ₹10 per litre [1] and diesel prices by ₹12.50 per litre [1]. These claims gained traction in late March 2024, leading to a formal response from the central government.

"The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has not issued any order for a hike in petrol or diesel prices," a Press Information Bureau (PIB) spokesperson said [1].

The ministry characterized the reports as an attempt to mislead the public. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said there is no proposal under consideration to increase fuel prices and described such reports as mischievous and misleading [2].

Further official statements from the ministry confirmed that the specific claims of a ₹10 increase for petrol, and a ₹12.50 increase for diesel, are false [3]. The government maintained that no such order had been issued to the relevant authorities.

This denial followed a period of heightened political rhetoric ahead of state elections, where the TMC leaders had used the alleged price hikes as a point of criticism against the central administration. The government's rebuttal aimed to stabilize market expectations and neutralize the political impact of the viral claims [1], [2].

“"The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has not issued any order for a hike in petrol or diesel prices."”

The clash between the Ministry of Petroleum and TMC leaders highlights the use of fuel pricing as a political tool during Indian election cycles. By debunking the specific numerical claims, the government sought to prevent public unrest and mitigate the political advantage the opposition hoped to gain from potential inflation fears.