Let us look into the prices of crude oil in the international market, the prices borne by consumers in India, the policies behind them, the claims made by the rulers who formulated these policies, and what is actually happening in practice. Prior to 2002, a system called the Administrative Price Control Mechanism was established and functioning in India. It operated under the control of the Ministry of Petroleum. Its main objective was to regulate crude oil prices so that the burdens of fluctuations in the international market were not passed on to the people. As part of that mechanism, the most crucial aspect was that the prices of petroleum products were determined by the government rather than by market forces. To facilitate its implementation, a policy known as the "Oil Pool Account" was in place. When prices dropped in the international market, the government would deposit a portion of the savings into this fund. When prices rose internationally, this fund was used as a shock absorber to prevent that burden from falling on the people.

However, in 2002, the NDA government led by Vajpayee abolished both, the Administrative Price Control Mechanism and the Oil Pool Account. The most vital feature of the policy of globalisation and liberalisation is that the government withdraws from its social responsibilities and encourages market forces to rule. Announcing this policy, then Prime Minister Vajpayee stated that there would be no further government intervention. He declared a policy decision that oil companies themselves would determine the prices, and institutional arrangements were made accordingly. Further, it was stated that if crude oil prices went up in the international market, prices of petroleum products in India would automatically rise and if international prices fell, the prices of petroleum products would automatically be reduced.  After 2014, crude oil prices in the international market fell significantly. The person in power during this period is Narendra Modi, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the successor to Vajpayee's legacy. According to the principle stated by Vajpayee, the prices of petroleum products like petrol, diesel, CNG, and cooking gas should have decreased. But contrary to that, prices have increased drastically. Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that guides them, need to answer to the people of India for this.

The crucial question is: should the prices of petroleum products function for the market stability of the economy? Or should they function for the life security of the people? If the people's standard of living, employment, agriculture, transportation, and purchasing power are the priorities, then government intervention, price stabilisation mechanisms and social protection policies become inevitable. Therefore, is today's government policy for the people, or is it for the benefit of a few corporate houses? No matter what words are spoken, today's government has proven in practice: "We only need the people's votes to come to power. So, we will talk about public welfare during elections. Once in power, like burning the bridge after crossing it, we will dump burdens on the people and break their backs." This is what this government has proven in practice.

A look at the statistical details showing how the price of crude oil in the international market changed from 2014 to March 2026, the corresponding increase in diesel and petrol prices, what they should have been based on the 2014 international prices, and what they actually are reveals how much extra money the Government collected from the people on every litre of diesel and petrol. The data is available at the website of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, a GOI body. According to it, the total amount plundered by the government from the people over a period of 12 years, solely from the consumption of diesel and petrol, is Rs.65,56 lakh crore.

Petrol and diesel are not just matters concerning individual consumption. Fuel is the most critical element in the entire economy. No process can take place in the society without fuel. Therefore, the impact of fuel prices will inevitably reflect on the prices of all commodities consumed by the general public. All the statistical details and actual consumption figures for CNG, domestic LPG, and commercial LPG users are not available, but the reality is that the Government has collected a far higher amount from the people than the total mentioned above. Further, the Government of India always talks at length about "Make in India” (Atma Nirbharta). In the field of petroleum and natural gas it was made a "Jumla". For the year 2014-15, the production of crude oil in India was three crore (30 million) metric tonnes. It has come down to 2.5 crore (25 million) metric tonnes, according to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. The dependence on imports of petroleum Products has risen to 88-90 per cent as against 70 per cent in 2014-15. More astonishing is that some technocrats in the field of PNG say that the Government of India is exploring only a meagre of 10 per cent of India's Natural Gas resources.

All these wrong deeds, lack of foresight, pro-corporate policies of the Modi led Government of India are the core reasons for the distress of the people. The only way left before the people is to rise to the occasion and fight back the anti-people, pro-corporate policies of the Government of India.