CPI(M) Slams Centre Over Gas Price Hike, Calls for Nationwide Protests

New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the central government’s decision to hike gas cylinder prices by ₹50 and raise the special excise duty on petrol and diesel, calling the move a severe blow to common people already grappling with inflation.
In a statement issued today, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau criticized the government for placing an additional burden of rupees 7,000 crore on the public through the LPG price hike, and for collecting nearly rupees 32,000 crore more by increasing excise duties on petrol and diesel.
"The steep rise in gas prices will have a crippling impact on the already stressed household budgets," the party said. "At a time when international oil and gas prices are falling, the government should have passed on the benefits to the people. Instead, it is choosing to enrich itself through regressive taxation."
The CPI(M) also accused the Modi-led Union government of violating federal principles by centralizing revenue collection under the pretext of special excise duty.
Demanding an immediate rollback of the hikes, the party has called upon all its units across the country to launch protests against the decision.