AMSU warns against price hike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10 2011:
All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has warned that any shop found selling goods at hiked price taking advantage of the ongoing blockade on the two National Highways would be shut down for a month.
The blockade and general strike has been imposed since August 1 in pursuit of the demand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a district.
Talking to mediapersons at the headoffice of AMSU here today, vice president of the student body Md Abdul Haque Shah said that no shopkeeper should ever think of hiking the price of essential commodities and selling them to the people by taking advantage of the indefinite economic blockade being imposed along the National Highways 39 and 53 over the demand for granting district status to Sadar hills.
He informed that volunteers of AMSU conducted a drive in Khwairamband Bazar yesterday following complaints from public that Potatoes which used to cost only around Rs 13 to 15 per kg before the blockade are being sold in the market today at Rs 30 and Onion, which used to cost Rs 20 per kg before is now being sold at Rs 35 per kg.
During the course of the drive, the shopkeepers have been warned that their shops would be shut down for one month if they were found guilty of hiking the price of essential commodities and selling them to the people, Md Abdul informed, adding that volunteers of AMSU have also inspected the many godowns and came across hoarding of food items like Potatoes.
Action would also be initiated against the owners of the mills if they were hiking the price of Maida and Atta, Md Abdul further warned.
Public can contact AMSU on mobile phone numbers 9856031130 and 9615129398 if any of the shopkeepers were found hiking the price of essential commodities, Md Abdul informed.
Taking serious note over reported shortage of life saving drugs and Oxygen in hospitals, the student body appealed to the Government of Manipur for resolving the present impasse over the demand for upgradation of Sadar Hills into a full-fledged district at the earliest possible.
Furthermore, AMSU appealed to the SHDDC for relaxing transportation of life saving drugs from the purview of its economic blockade.