PM Fuel Saving Push Highlights: Delhi Minister cycles to event, Bihar CM ditches convoy amid fuel-saving push

Congress leader TS Singh Deo said the country appears to be in the “initial phase” of rising prices and blamed the Centre for failing to manage the situation effectively.

Singh Deo criticised the government’s handling of foreign relations, saying it had failed to maintain ties even with nations that shared friendly relations with India. He suggested that the current fuel price hike reflected broader failures in economic and diplomatic management by the Centre.

Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash R Patil criticised the Centre over the nationwide fuel price hike, alleging that the government was trying to hide the country’s real economic situation.

Patil said the Union government was imposing a “massive tax burden” on fuel instead of reducing duties despite changing global market conditions. He accused the Centre of

Congress MP K. Suresh criticised the Centre over the hike in petrol and diesel prices, calling it a “headache for common people” and accusing the government of failing to protect citizens from the impact of rising fuel costs.

Suresh said the government had already increased the prices of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders and has now raised petrol and diesel prices as well. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier remarks, he said the PM had assured that the West Asia crisis would not become a burden on common people, but alleged that the government had failed to fulfil that promise.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini defended the fuel price hike, saying the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected the entire world and posed a challenge that must be faced collectively.

Speaking in Sirsa, Saini said people should compare the rise in fuel prices over the last 11.5 years with the increase witnessed during the Congress-led government’s tenure. He suggested that the current situation must be viewed in the context of global developments impacting energy prices.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay criticised the Centre over the hike in petrol and diesel prices, calling the increase of Rs 3 per litre for both fuels “unacceptable”.

In a statement, Vijay said that when crude oil prices fall in the international market, public sector oil companies do not reduce petrol and diesel prices accordingly and instead retain the profits. He also questioned the timing of the hike, saying it came immediately after the conclusion of Assembly elections in five states.

In line with the Centre’s push to reduce fuel consumption amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, the Supreme Court on Friday introduced a series of measures aimed at conserving fuel and improving resource utilisation, including virtual hearings, work-from-home arrangements and car-pooling among judges.

According to a circular issued by Supreme Court Secretary General Bharat Parashar, the measures came into immediate effect following an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on May 12, 2026.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha criticised the government over the fuel price hike, alleging that it has “no regard for public sentiment” and claiming that fear of elections prevents it from taking unpopular decisions earlier.

Referring to the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, Jha said he would personally prefer elections throughout the year because “this government fears nothing but elections”. He added that if elections were not around, such measures would have been implemented long ago.

The RJD leader further said the rise in petrol and diesel prices would have a cascading impact across sectors, warning of inflationary pressure on agriculture, the tertiary sector and small-scale enterprises.

Former R&AW Secretary Samant Goel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been facing threats for the last 25 years, dating back to his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, and stressed that his security should remain the country’s highest priority.

Commenting on reports of PM Modi reducing his security convoy, Goel said that given the Prime Minister’s stand on national security, “jihadi elements” from neighbouring countries and international networks would always intend to target him.

“As per me, for us, PM’s security is the highest priority in the country today. We must ensure it and there should be nothing lacking in it,” he said.

A government officer working on the seventh floor of a Delhi government office said he travels nearly 40 kilometres daily from Dasna in Uttar Pradesh to his office at ITO in Delhi using his petrol car.

According to the officer, after the government reduced petrol usage by 20 per cent, he decided to switch to travelling by Metro. He said the move would help save fuel and also reduce traffic congestion.

The officer added that the government’s decision was a step in the right direction and said if government employees themselves use public transport, it would send a positive message to the public.

As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to save fuel, Delhi Minister Parvesh Singh rode a bicycle to the NDMC Convention Centre to attend an event.

A video of BJP MLA Mukesh Chaudhary from Uttar Pradesh’s Nakur Assembly constituency in Saharanpur has gone viral on social media, showing him travelling in a rickshaw instead of using his car. The move is being linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for fuel conservation.

In one of the viral clips, the MLA is seen taking a rickshaw from the railway station to his residence, while another video shows him arriving in the same manner.

The videos have sparked widespread discussion in the area, with mixed reactions pouring in on social media. While some people praised the MLA’s simplicity, others viewed the gesture as a symbolic message promoting fuel conservation. Videos of the MLA’s rickshaw rides continue to be widely shared in the Nakur area.

(Anil Kumar Bhardwaj)

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the petrol and diesel price hike as a “cruel assault” on people already reeling under high inflation.

"The Union Govt’s Rs 3 hike in petrol and diesel prices is a cruel assault on people already struggling with inflation and rising living costs. When international crude oil prices had fallen earlier, the Union Govt denied the people any relief and continued looting them through exorbitant fuel taxes. Now, after imposing a steep LPG price hike, it is once again making ordinary families pay for its failures in the name of oil company losses.

This anti-people decision will further raise transportation costs and the prices of essential commodities, hitting workers, farmers, and middle-class households the hardest. The Union Govt must withdraw this unjustified price hike immediately," he wrote on X. 

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj reacted to the petrol and diesel price hike by claiming that several economic indicators point towards growing stress in the economy. He said the trade deficit was widening, exports were falling, imports were rising and production had slowed down.

The former Delhi Minister also cited reports of unemployment among engineering and MBA graduates, alleging that many large companies were laying off employees. He said the government should clearly inform people about the “real economic condition” of the country.

He further claimed that petrol and diesel prices could rise further in the coming days and said the Centre should explain the situation transparently so that citizens understand the challenges and can cooperate accordingly.

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh reacted to the latest petrol and diesel price hike by accusing the Centre of lacking proper planning despite the ongoing global crisis. He said that while the country understands the impact of the war situation, the government had failed to prepare adequately for such developments.

Ghosh also suggested comparing current fuel prices with rates before the BJP came to power in 2014, taking a swipe at the Centre over rising costs borne by consumers.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government will try to ensure strict implementation of the proposed two-day work-from-home policy in the national capital, including in the private sector. Speaking to India Today, he said the move is part of implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on reducing fuel consumption and promoting conservation measures in Delhi.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said India stood apart from several countries that witnessed sharp fuel price hikes following the West Asia conflict and the global surge in crude oil prices. He noted that while many nations saw petrol and diesel prices rise significantly, India recorded a relatively small increase of about 3.2 per cent for petrol and 3.4 per cent for diesel.

Rijiju added that despite Brent crude crossing the $100 per barrel mark and global markets turning volatile, India’s public sector oil companies absorbed substantial losses for weeks to shield citizens from inflationary pressure. He described the approach as responsible governance that prioritises public welfare and economic stability.

He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has managed to maintain a balance between economic stability and the welfare of citizens during global energy disruptions.

Uttar Pradesh Ayush Minister Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’ travelled to a government meeting in an electric vehicle (EV), skipping his usual convoy as part of the state’s fuel-saving campaign.

The minister removed other escort vehicles and chose to travel in an EV, accompanied only by minimal security support. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to be implemented across the state. Following this, several ministers and public representatives in Uttar Pradesh have begun adopting similar measures.

Previously, the minister’s convoy included multiple vehicles, but he opted for a reduced and more sustainable arrangement for this trip.

(Samarth Shrivastav)

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary walked from the Chief Minister’s residence to the Secretariat on Friday. The distance between the two offices is around 50 metres, making it a short walk within the administrative complex.

(Rohit Singh inputs)

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has launched an integrated hydrogen-powered shuttle bus service in the Central Vista area of Delhi.

Under the initiative, Indian Oil Corporation Limited is providing two hydrogen-fuelled buses with a seating capacity of 35 passengers each. The buses are equipped with GPS-based tracking and CCTV systems to ensure real-time monitoring, safety, punctuality and route adherence.

The shuttle service will operate on all working days from Monday to Friday, excluding gazetted holidays, during peak office hours. The timings are 8.30 am to 12.30 pm; and 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm.