Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Karnataka Congress in-charge, sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its recent fuel price hikes, alleging a 'massive loot' of the common citizen. He noted that petrol prices in Bengaluru have crossed ₹110 per litre for the first time since independence, despite a drop in global crude oil prices from $100 to $98.6 per barrel. Surjewala claimed that the BJP government has looted the public of ₹57 lakh crore over the past 12 years through fuel pricing. He pointed out that the last 11 days have seen four price hikes, totaling an increase of ₹7.52 per litre, which he described as 'unpardonable'. The Congress leader emphasized the impact of these hikes on various segments of society, including salaried workers, farmers, and small business owners, stating that the burden extends beyond fuel to essential goods. The recent price increases are part of a broader trend linked to global crude oil market volatility and geopolitical tensions in West Asia.