Fuel Price Hike Sparks Outrage: Vijayan Blasts Centre's Economic Policies

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the Centre's Rs 3 per litre fuel price hike amid global crude tensions. Vijayan labeled the decision as 'cruel', accusing it of burdening struggling citizens and favoring corporate interests. The Centre defended the hike by citing global comparative data.

Former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan has vehemently criticized the Central Government's recent decision to raise fuel prices, calling it a 'cruel betrayal' at a time when citizens are grappling with inflation and rising living costs. On Friday, the Centre announced a Rs 3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices, coinciding with Brent crude prices surpassing USD 100 per barrel amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

In a statement released by his office, Vijayan expressed concerns that the increase in fuel prices would further strain the already fragile finances of ordinary citizens. He alleged that despite previous declines in international crude prices, the benefits were not passed on to the public, accusing the government of now raising prices to offset oil company losses. Vijayan also criticized the Centre's management of cooking gas prices, attributing shortages and successive hikes to misguided policies that have exacerbated public hardship.

Vijayan accused the government of prioritizing corporate profits over public welfare, branding the repeated fuel price hikes as 'looting'. He urged for immediate intervention to retract the 'unjust decision', arguing that global geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, have exacerbated crude supply issues. However, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the hike, pointing out that India's fuel price rise is minimal compared to international trends caused by the West Asia crisis. He noted other countries faced increases ranging from 20% to nearly 100%.