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The cartoon depicts Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, riding a bicycle, his party's symbol. Akhilesh is passing by a large billboard that conveys a message from the Prime Minister, ‘Spend less on petrol: PM.’
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav (PTI)Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on 15 May shared a political cartoon on social media, focusing on the rising cost of fuel amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity and subsequent rise in fuel prices.
The cartoon depicts Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, riding a bicycle, his party's symbol. Akhilesh is passing by a large billboard that conveys a message from the Prime Minister, “Spend less on petrol: PM.”
Sharing the image on X, Yadav captioned the post: "Aage badhna hai to cycle hi vikalp hai" (I've said it from the start: there is nothing better than the bicycle!). Bicycle is election symbol of Samajwadi Party, the opposition in Uttar Pradesh where assembly polls are due next year.
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AI powered insights from this story
Petrol and diesel prices were increased by ₹3 per litre after state-owned oil firms ended a four-year hiatus in rate revisions. This hike occurred amidst global energy market volatility due to the West Asia crisis and soaring Brent oil prices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to adopt austerity measures to conserve foreign exchange by reducing petrol and diesel consumption. He suggested using public transport, carpooling, preferring railways for goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles.
Opposition leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and the Congress party criticized the fuel price hike. Yadav shared a cartoon promoting bicycles as an alternative, while the Congress linked the hike to the completion of assembly elections, calling it 'vasooli' (extortion).
Diesel price hikes can have a significant economic impact as diesel powers much of India's transport and logistics. This can increase the cost of transporting goods, affecting prices of essential commodities and potentially reducing household spending.
Before the recent increase on May 15, petrol and diesel prices had remained unchanged for nearly four years. A minor reduction of ₹2 per litre each for petrol and diesel occurred in March 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections.
The story is set against the backdrop of an economic crunch and soaring fuel prices due to the West Asia crisis.
Petrol price hike today
Petrol and diesel prices were increased by ₹3 per litre on Friday after state-owned oil firms ended a four-year record hiatus in rate revisions. Soon after petrol price, CNG prices hiked by ₹2 in Delhi from today., 15 May.
The fuel price hike comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modiappealed to citizens to adopt austerity measures to conserve foreign exchange by reducing imports of crude oil and precious metals.
PM Modi, in his seven-point appeal, requested citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for carpooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible.
The price hike also comes less than two weeks after state assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Polls in Assam and Kerala were held on 9 April, in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of voting in West Bengal on 23 April, and ended in 29 April with the second phase of polling in West Bengal. The results were announced on 4 May.
Congress on fuel price hike
The Congress party linked the fuel price hike to the completion of the Assembly election in four states and one union territory, saying that PM Modi's "vasooli (extortion) begins" after the elections.
In New Delhi, the petrol prices rose from ₹94.77 to ₹97.77 per litre, while diesel prices increased from ₹87.67 to ₹90.67 per litre.
This comes amid a call for fuel conservation as the world faces an energy crisis amid the West Asia conflict, which led to a blockade in the significant maritime trade route, the Strait of Hormuz.
The Brent oil prices have been at a record high in the wake of the US-Israel and Iran war, which began on February 28 this year. The Brent oil price has been hovering over USD 100 per barrel as the US and Iran are attempting to mediate for a long-term ceasefire in the region.
Aage badhna hai to cycle hi vikalp hai.
The widening of the ambit of the war engulfed the West Asian countries, which are major suppliers of fuel.
(With agency inputs)
Key Takeaways
- Rising fuel prices are linked to international conflicts and domestic economic policies.
- Political responses to fuel hikes can shape public perception and influence future elections.
- Austerity measures proposed by leaders may not align with actual economic realities faced by citizens.
About the Author
Gulam Jeelani
Gulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience.<br><br> Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times.<br><br> Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership.<br><br> Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter.<br><br> Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.
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