Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 15:
In protest against the escalating prices of essential commodities, the Communist Party of India has geared up for a country wide protest movement on April 17 and 18 .
As a part of the scheduled protest movement, the CPI Manipur State unit in collaboration with the Manipur Loumee Lup, the All Manipur Nupi Marup, AITUC Manipur, AIYF and AISF will be organising protest movements in the four valley districts of the State.
On April 17, protest sittings will be staged at Porompat and Keishampat Lairembi Lampak.
Similar protest sittings will be organised at Moirang Lamkhai, Nambol, Thoubal parking and Kakching on April 18 .
Briefing media persons in connection with the scheduled protest movements at the office of CPI Manipur State unit here this afternoon, former Minister Dr M Nara asserted that the hike in prices of essential commodities is due to manipulation by businessmen and adoption of the 6th Pay Commission.
Even as the UPA Government was served an ultimatum to check the soaring prices by April 15, the Central Government has failed to take up any concrete measure.
This has compelled the CPI to launch the protest movement, Nara said.
CPI Manipur State unit secretary L Iboyaima observed that the rising prices of essential commodities has severely affected the poor people as well as middle class people.
During the protest movement, the CPI would urge the UPA Govt to check price hike of essential commodities, stabilise prices of essential commodities at appropriate rates, buy agricultural produces from farmers at prices commensurate to their labour and investment, streamline PDS all over the country, prevent hoarding of food for profit and to amend the Essential Commodities Act.
Alleging that the increase in prices of essential commodities is due to policy failure of the UPA Government, assistant secretary of the CPI Manipur State unit Sotinkumar conveyed that the Left parties supporting the UPA Govnt have already intimated the Union Government that they review their support to the Government if the Government fails to take up some concrete measures to check the soaring prices of essential commodities.