3 min readMay 15, 2026 09:49 AM IST
Taking a swipe at the Centre’s austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption, Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav on Friday criticised the move as petrol and diesel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre on May 15 following a rise in global energy prices.
Akhilesh Yadav shared a post on X, saying, “Aage badhna hai to cycle hi vikalp hai!” (If you want to move forward, a cycle is the only option.)
The cartoon shows Akhilesh riding a bicycle. The post read: ‘Humne to pehle hi kaha hai ki cycle se behtar kuch nahi.’ (We already said that there’s nothing better than the cycle.”Akhilesh Yadav took a ‘cycle’ jab at the Union government using the symbol of his political party.
आगे बढ़ना है तो साइकिल ही विकल्प है। pic.twitter.com/FDDpykbGrr
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 15, 2026
Congress calls PM Modi ‘inflation man’
Congress has also shared a post on X calling PM Modi as ‘Mehangayi man’ (Inflation man) after fuel prices were hiked on Friday. The post read:
Prices of petrol and diesel have been increased by 3 rupees each. CNG prices have also been raised by 2 rupees. Elections over – Modi’s recovery begins.
‘महंगाई मैन’ मोदी ने आज फिर जनता पर हंटर चलाया.
• पेट्रोल और डीजल 3-3 रुपए महंगा कर दिया गया
• वहीं, CNG के दाम भी 2 रुपए बढ़ा दिए गएचुनाव खत्म – मोदी की वसूली शुरू
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 15, 2026
This comes after PM Narendra Modi, in his address, appealed to citizens to cut down on fuel consumption and reduce buying gold for a year amid the West Asia war.
In Delhi, petrol now costs Rs 97.77 per litre, up from Rs 94.77. Diesel has risen to Rs 90.67 per litre from Rs 87.67, according to PTI.
PM Modi asked citizens to reduce fuel consumption
Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on May 10, the PM asked citizens to use public transport as much as possible, increase the use of electric vehicles (EVs), revive Covid-era measures such as work-from-home arrangements and virtual meetings, avoid non-essential foreign travel and gold purchases for a year, and prioritise local goods, among other measures.
“Use metros wherever metros are available. Use carpooling to go to places, and use the Railways if you have to transport goods. All of this will reduce dependency on petrol and diesel, and thereby cut the dependence on foreign currency,” he said.
Story continues below this ad
During a global crisis, such as the one caused by the conflict in West Asia, he said, “We have to take resolutions, keeping the country above all else.”
