Fuel Price Row: BJP Accuses AAP of Misleading Public

Delhi BJP unleashed a scathing attack on Friday against Aam Aadmi Party's handling of a minor fuel price uptick, branding their rhetoric as laughable and deceptive. Spokesperson Shankar Kapoor said AAP is deliberately confusing citizens about Gulf conflict-induced global oil spikes. Acknowledging the burden of even a single rupee rise on petrol and diesel, Kapoor stressed universal awareness that it's a direct fallout from international crude surges, mitigated effectively by central policies. Kapoor mocked AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj for international naivety, arming his critique with facts: petrol equivalents at 105 rupees in New York, 92.50 in Moscow. 'Let Bharadwaj detail how India secures cheaper barrels from Arabs, Americans, or Russians,' he prodded. Bharadwaj retaliated, pinning blame on the Centre for US-driven cuts in cheap Russian oil buys, tying it to a fresh three-rupee per liter increase with more pain looming. 'Inflation's initial blow; citizens face worse ahead,' he cautioned. He charged India with succumbing to American sway, ditching prior Russian oil perks that cushioned consumers. Bharadwaj decried the double standards: government appeals for public restraint on travel and gold to safeguard reserves, while corporates splurge overseas. This political showdown highlights fuel's enduring electoral potency. BJP positions itself as the voice of reason, spotlighting global realities over partisan jabs. AAP amplifies grievances, framing policy shifts as elite favoritism. As crude markets wobble, the discourse will shape voter sentiments, demanding substantive solutions beyond blame games.