Government Strikes Down Rumours About Fuel Price Hike, Calls Claims Fake And Misleading

In a recent incident, fake news was circulated claiming that petrol and diesel prices were about to be hiked. This created a frenzy among users across several social media platforms, prompting the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to issue a statement clarifying and dismissing these claims. The ministry took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to state that no such proposal was under consideration. The clarification comes at a time when speculation about a possible price hike had intensified following the elections.

This clarification aims to counter the misinformation that has been circulating and has triggered widespread concern among consumers. Left unchecked, such rumours could have led to panic buying and hoarding. According to the official statement, these claims are baseless and are being spread with the intent to create confusion and anxiety among citizens.

In recent days, multiple such claims have surfaced on multiple social media platforms that suggest petrol and diesel prices might go up by as much as Rs 20 to Rs 28 per litre after the elections have been held. These ‘reports’ gained engagement really quickly and sparked debate and uncertainty among the citizens who are already under inflation-related pressures.

This has led the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to completely strike down such claims through their X platform. The post emphasised that no such decision has been taken or no such proposal is under consideration. “Such news items are designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are mischievous and misleading. In fact, India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices haven’t increased in the last four years. Government of India and Oil PSUs have taken relentless steps in order to insulate the Indian citizens from steep increases in international prices,” said the post. The message also reiterated that if any changes were to be made, they would be announced through the official platforms.

The ministry was quick to respond to the rumours, highlighting the intent to maintain transparency and prevent misinformation causing panic in the public. As the fuel prices remain a concern for many, geopolitical tensions persist in the West. With the message, it is clear that the oil prices haven’t changed, and there are no such talks related to price hikes either, reassuring the public.