The All India Youth Federation (AIYF) on Saturday launched a strong attack against the Centre over the frequent rise in fuel prices, accusing the Union government of burdening common people while Union Minister of State for Petroleum Suresh Gopi “remains in hiding.”

Inaugurating a protest march to the BSNL office in Thrissur on Saturday, AIYF State joint secretary Prasad Pareri said the Centre’s policies were allowing oil companies to exploit the public.

“The government is looting ordinary people by repeatedly increasing fuel prices. In just the past two weeks, prices have been hiked six times,” he said.

Mr. Pareri criticised the Centre for citing international market fluctuations and West Asian conflicts as justification, alleging that such arguments were being used to shield oil companies. “This policy of handing over people to corporate exploitation is highly condemnable,” he added.

He further alleged that under the Narendra Modi government, aggressive neoliberal policies have strengthened corporate dominance and pushed the economy towards extreme liberalisation. “The consequences of these policies are now being felt across the country,” he said.

Accusing the Centre of inaction, Mr. Pareri said that instead of taking meaningful steps to ease the burden on citizens, the government was “serving corporate interests while making people’s lives miserable.”

Calling for public resistance, he urged people to rise against the fuel price hike. He also warned that the AIYF would intensify its agitation, including protest marches to the office of the Union Petroleum Minister.

AIYF district president Binoy Shabeer presided over the event.