Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanaid the high price of diesel would increase freight charges, which would, consequently, jack up the prices of essential commodities. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday (May 15, 2026) termed the central government-initiated hike in fuel prices as a “treachery of public welfare”. In a statement here, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau member said that by significantly raising petrol and diesel prices, the Centre had further injured people already reeling under a cost-of-living crisis.Petrol and diesel prices hike LIVE updates - May 15, 2026He said the high price of diesel would increase freight charges, which would, consequently, jack up the prices of essential commodities. Commuters would have to shell out more for daily travel and deller inflation might spiral out of control, he added. Mr, Vijayan said the Centre had used the rise of crude oil prices owing to the crisis in West Asia to fleece ordinary people, who would feel the bite of the fuel price hike acutely. In contrast, the Centre had failed to pass on the benefits of a decade of low crude prices to the people. His statement highlighted that the “flawed” hike in cooking gas prices had dealt a serious blow to the economy, upending household budgets and crippling the hotel and restaurant industry. Mr. Vijayan further said the Centre, instead of cushioning the fallout from rising crude oil prices, had coerced the common working class people into picking up the tab. He said unskilled workers, office-goers, lower-income families, farm workers and labourers would feel the pain of the fuel price hike acutely, while the governing class appeared least concerned. Published - May 15, 2026 10:44 am IST
