Fuel price hikes trigger political storm, farmer anger ahead of paddy season

Bathinda/Chandigarh/Amritsar: A sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices over the past 10 days has triggered political attacks, farmer protests and concerns over rising agricultural costs in Punjab ahead of the paddy transplantation season.

Diesel prices have risen by around Rs 7.5 per litre in four hikes since May 15, including the latest increase of Rs 2.71 per litre on Monday. Petrol prices have also risen steeply during the same period.





Farmer organisations said the repeated hikes would severely impact Punjab's agriculture sector, which depends heavily on diesel during the kharif season for tractors and diesel-run tube wells.

BKU (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said the increase was enough to "overshadow every agricultural welfare scheme" by sharply raising input costs. BKU (Lakhowal) leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal questioned the timing of the hikes, alleging prices were raised after elections in several states concluded. Farmer bodies warned of protests demanding rollback of the increases.

The hikes come as Punjab prepares for staggered paddy transplantation beginning June 1, while direct seeding of rice (DSR) has already started in several districts.

Political parties also targeted the Centre over the increase in fuel prices. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Narendra Modi-led govt of "stealthily" burdening people despite falling global crude oil prices and profits earned by oil companies. Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa alleged the rising fuel prices and weakening rupee were making life increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa claimed the middle class was facing mounting pressure due to inflation and rising household expenses.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the repeated hikes a "crippling blow" to the common man and demanded reduction in GST and other taxes on fuel and essential commodities.

Meanwhile, farmer groups and labour organisations staged protests at several places along the Punjab border, burning effigies of the Centre and accusing it of pushing the agrarian economy towards crisis through rising fuel costs and inflation. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher alleged that increasing diesel prices and rising input costs were hurting farmers and labourers while returns from crops remained low.