Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Sunday strongly criticised the latest increase in domestic LPG prices, describing it as an "anti-people" measure that would place an additional burden on households already struggling with rising living costs.
In a statement, the senior CPI(M) leader urged the Centre to immediately withdraw its decision to raise the price of domestic cooking gas cylinders by Rs 29.
Vijayan pointed out that this was the second hike in domestic LPG prices within the past three months. He noted that the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder has now reached Rs 951 following the latest increase. The Centre had earlier raised the price by Rs 60 per cylinder on March 7, he added.
The former Chief Minister alleged that a series of decisions adversely affecting people's lives had followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for citizens to be prepared to make sacrifices.
Expressing concern over the broader economic impact of rising fuel costs, Vijayan claimed that the steep increase in commercial LPG prices had pushed the hotel industry into crisis. He further alleged that petrol and diesel prices had risen by a combined Rs 7.50 per litre since mid-May, while CNG prices had increased by Rs 6 per kilogram.
Calling for urgent intervention, Vijayan urged the state government to take measures to provide relief to people facing escalating prices and mounting inflationary pressures.
He also reiterated his demand that the state government forgo additional tax revenue generated from petroleum price increases in order to shield the public from the growing cost burden.
Vijayan urged both the Centre and the state government to reconsider what he described as their "negative and anti-people" approach and take immediate steps to ease the hardship faced by the public amid rising prices.
With PTI Inputs