K.C. Venugopal slams Centre, says no government to address people’s issues in the country

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K. C. Venugopal, MP, on Sunday (May 24, 2026) launched a sharp attack on the Union government, saying the country’s biggest crisis today is the absence of a government willing to address people’s problems.

“The biggest crisis faced by the country is that there is no government to respond to people’s issues. The Centre has no solutions to tackle rising unemployment and price rise,” he said while interacting with mediapersons in Guruvayur in Thrissur district of Kerala.

Raising concerns over growing unrest among the youth, Mr. Venugopal questioned, “Who is responsible for pushing young people into insecurity? There is no serious discussion on this.”

He said the recent protests were triggered by remarks against unemployed youth and cautioned against criminalising them. “There is no point in branding young people as criminals. What we are witnessing is youth anger that is trying to wake up the government,” he said.

“The government must take these protests positively. Instead of suppressing them through unlawful means, it should listen and respond,” he added.

Mr. Venugopal also dismissed the argument that emerging political movements reflect a loss of faith in existing parties. “These protests are issue-based. The sentiments of the youth must be respected. It is the duty of the government to respond to them,” he said, warning that a “heavy-handed approach will only intensify the protests.”

Targeting the Centre’s economic policies, he alleged that opportunities for young people have been shrinking. “Over the past 12 years, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises have been weakened, job opportunities reduced, and initiatives like Agniveer have further limited prospects for the youth,” he said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of ignoring domestic crises. “Instead of addressing the serious issues facing the country, the Prime Minister is busy travelling abroad and staging events,” he said.

On fuel price

On fuel prices, Mr. Venugopal said, “Even when global crude oil prices fell, the Centre increased excise duty and burdened people. Now, as prices continue to rise, there is no attempt to find solutions through dialogue.”

Warning of tougher times ahead, he said, “A very serious situation is emerging. The government is not preparing to face it. It must respect the sentiments of the youth and act now to resolve these issues.”