THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's criticism that states including Kerala were not reducing fuel taxes. Pinarayi Vijayan said that the suffering of the people due to the increase in fuel prices cannot be mitigated by blaming the states.

"There should be no attempt in the federal system to make it appear that the responsibility for inflation in the country lies with certain states and not the central government. The lives of ordinary people should not be made unbearable. It must avoid excessive tax increases. The central government should take steps to curb the recurring increase in fuel prices through appropriate policies," Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Pinarayi Vijayan also pointed out that Kerala had not increased sales tax on petroleum products even once in the last six years. The Kerala CM, who said that the Centre did not share with the states the revenue earned since 2014 from the increase in excise duty on petrol and diesel, added that the Centre delayed disbursal of State's share in central taxes and the GST compensation.