New Delhi, May 16: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) has launched a strong attack on the central government regarding the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices. The party alleges that the Modi administration is shifting the burden of its foreign and economic policy failures onto the common people.
In a statement from its central committee, the party noted that the government has long denied the existence of an economic crisis. However, just days after the results of the 2026 assembly elections and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to “save fuel,” petrol and diesel prices were raised by three rupees per liter.
The CPI (ML) claims that the government’s foreign policy, which aligns closely with U.S.-Israeli interests, has exacerbated the economic crisis. Now, the government is offloading this crisis onto the public.
Referencing the COVID-19 period, the party stated that people were left to fend for themselves during tough times. Once again, the government is evading accountability and placing additional burdens on citizens. The party highlighted that the public is being urged to save fuel, reduce gold purchases, and limit foreign travel, while the government’s policies are to blame for the crisis.
The statement further criticized the government for linking the fuel price hike to rising global crude oil prices and ongoing conflicts in West Asia. However, the party pointed out that the benefits of falling oil prices in the international market have never been passed on to the public. It accused the government of imposing extra burdens on the populace to protect the profits of oil companies.
The CPI (ML) warned that the increase in fuel prices will lead to higher inflation and impact the prices of essential goods. According to the party, this will adversely affect agriculture, transportation, and other sectors, further exacerbating the economic hardships faced by ordinary people.
The party also noted that signs of an economic crisis have been evident for some time, citing shortages of LPG, restaurant closures, labor migration, and rising unemployment.
The CPI (ML) has demanded that the central government immediately roll back the increased prices of petrol and diesel, abolish the market-based pricing policy, and regulate fuel prices.
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