Bengaluru, May 15 -- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday slammed the Centre over the hike in petrol and diesel prices, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed in managing international relations amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Reacting to the Centre's decision to increase fuel prices by Rs 3 per litre, Shivakumar said the common people could not be expected to reduce essential consumption and accused the government of failing to effectively handle the situation arising from global conflicts.

"Mr. Modi has failed in the international relationship. He could not manage well, he could not help, that is why like Covid, what he said, ring the bell, lift the lamp, lift the lamp and all he's just giving. It ...