CPI-M in Kerala on Saturday asked people to put up a joint fight against petrol and diesel price hike, which it said was the result of “liberalisation policies” of the UPA government.

The Centre was turning a “blind eye” to the nationwide protests against spiralling prices and imposing fresh burden on the people, the CPI—M state secretariat said in a statement here.

One of the demands raised by trade unions for their proposed 48—hour strike from February 20 was that the Centre should take steps to contain price rise.

This was the 20th time prices were being hiked since de—regulation of petrol—diesel prices. The CPI—M wanted the people to come out against the UPA government, which was “colluding” with oil companies to make them richer, the party alleged.