The left-wing parties are planning a “rasta roko” against the increase in fuel prices on June 9

CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao and leaders of other Left parties at a press conference in Vijayawada on Thursday. | Photo credit: KVS Giri

On June 9, the left-wing parties announced a nationwide “rasta roko” against repeated increases in gasoline and diesel prices. They accused the NDA government at the Center of carrying out authoritarian and anti-people policies, which they said put a lot of burden on the common people.

The decision to stage the protest was taken at a meeting chaired by CPI(ML) leader Jasti Kishore Babu on Thursday.

Leaders from CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) New Democracy, CPI(ML) Liberation and MCPI (U) participated while those from RSP, Forward Bloc and SUCI (C) extended their support through a resolution passed at the meeting.

Later, addressing the media, CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said the Center had hiked petrol and diesel prices four times in recent months and warned that further hikes were likely. From June 1 to 7, left-wing parties will organize awareness campaigns, distribution of leaflets, public meetings and seminars.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao claimed that nearly ₹54 crore in the price of petrol consisted of central and state taxes and criticized governments for failing to reduce taxes despite rising fuel prices.

The leaders demanded that 50% of the oil and gas produced in the KG basin be allocated to Andhra Pradesh and urged the Center to continue importing oil from Russia and Iran. They opposed the transfer of newly discovered gas and oil reserves at Kaza to private companies and sought government control of the resources.

Terming the ED raid on former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as politically motivated, the leaders accused the Center of misusing investigative agencies against opposition party leaders.

Y. Venkateswara Rao of CPI(M), Harinath Reddy of CPI, Chittipati Venkateswarlu and Polari of CPI(ML) New Democracy, Harinath of CPI(ML) Liberation and Ganesh of MCPI(U) participated.

Published – 28 May 2026 18:59 IST