The Left parties described the Centre's reduction of the excise duty on petrol and diesel on Thursday as "too little and too late", saying it was like rubbing salt on the wounds of the common man.
CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim said the central government realised that it should reduce the fuel prices when the price of petrol and diesel was just "few runs away from hitting the century".
"The common man was suffering and Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government kept watching. This meagre reduction is like rubbing salt on the wounds of the common man, who is reeling under the rising prices," Salim said.
Echoing similar sentiments, CPI leader D Raja said, "It is too little and too late. There is urgent need for more reduction in petrol and diesel prices."