The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday staged a unique protest in the city, condemning the Union government’s decision to hike the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas.

Led by the CPM Visakhapatnam district committee, party workers took out a rally by pushing two-wheelers from the party office at Yechuri Bhavan to Maddilapalem junction, demanding an immediate rollback of the revised rates.

Speaking on the occasion, CPM district secretary M. Jaggu Naidu accused the Modi government of breaking the back of the common man and the middle class by increasing fuel and gas prices three times in the last eight days. He noted that while petrol and diesel prices were raised by nearly ₹5 per litre, CNG rates went up by ₹4 per kg, and the price of commercial LPG cylinders was hiked by ₹114.

This, he said, has triggered a sharp rise in the cost of essential commodities, leaving the public struggling to cope with the financial burden.

Mr. Jaggu likened the government’s approach of increasing prices in phases to administering slow poison to the citizens to avoid an immediate mass rebellion. He pointed out that prior to the elections in five states, the Union government had assured citizens that the US-Israel military conflict with Iran would not affect domestic fuel supplies or prices. However, soon after the elections concluded, the government breached the trust of the people by repeatedly hiking prices, he alleged.

He also criticised the State government for failing to question the Centre and instead showing obedience to it. He demanded that both the Central and State governments immediately reduce the taxes levied on petroleum products to provide relief to consumers.

Referring to the diplomatic ties between the USA and India, Mr. Jaggu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should leverage his friendship with Donald Trump to help halt the conflict in the Middle East and lift the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasised that Indian citizens should not be penalised with inflation for a geopolitical crisis they did not create.

CPM district secretariat members R.K.S.V. Kumar and V. Krishna Rao, were among those who participated in the agitation