New Delhi, May 15 -- The Centre's decision to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs.3 per litre sparked a wave of reactions online on Friday, with memes, jokes, political criticism and inflation concerns flooding social media platforms within hours of the announcement.

The latest hike, which comes after nearly four years without a major retail fuel increase, quickly turned into a trending topic on X as users reacted with sarcasm, frustration and concern over rising living costs.

The fuel price revision also arrives at a time when households are already dealing with higher prices of essential commodities, intensifying concerns around inflation and everyday expenses.

Among the first political leaders to react was Akhilesh Yadav, who sh...