On September 3, petrol and diesel rates hit an all-time high in the country, despite a decline in crude prices in the global market. Petrol dealers in the city blamed a triad of issues: rupee's plunge against the dollar, the US's embargo on Iran (one of India's main suppliers of crude oil) and, finally, the main culprit — taxes. The central and state taxes alone account for more than half the price of petrol, lamented suppliers.

In just a month, petrol witnessed a nearly Rs 3 rise in Mumbai, from Rs 83.76 per litre on August 1 to Rs 86.56 on September 3, while diesel too went up by Rs 3.5 (Rs 72 per litre on August 1 to Rs 75.54 yesterday).