BJP launches signature campaign against price rise
Source: Hueiyen News Service/ NNN
Imphal, September 14 2011:
BJP Manipur unit launched its proposed signature campaign against artificial inflation as result of the economic blockades on the National Highways by SHDDC and UNC.
The memorandum along with the signatures collected during the campaign will be submitted to the Governor of Manipur on September 19, said Secretary Media Affairs of the party L Bashanta today.
President BJP state unit Shantikumar along with Vice President S Lala, General Secretaries Th Shyamo and Kh Radhakishore, State Secretaries Y Nillamani and L Bashanta and various leaders of the Morchas and Cells of the Party participated in the signature campaign which was launched by its president Shantikumar from Samu Makhong, Khwairamband Keithel, Imphal from 11 AM onwards.
Manipur has been going through a difficult phase of price rise fueled by the ongoing agitation since midnight July 31 by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) across Sadar Hills in demanding a full fledged district and a counter-agitation thereafter by United Naga Council (UNC) opposing the demand.
The economic blockade and counter blockade have effectively curtailed the transport of essential commodities along national highways 39 and 53.This has resulted in artificial scarcity of commodities and a concomitant price rise in the state.
The five-day signature campaign will travel to different places of Manipur before it is handed over to the governor along with a memorandum, said the BJP president on the sideline of the campaign.
"The intolerably high prices of all essential commodities and the burden this has put on the common men of the state is the reflection of the quintessential failure of the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government in Manipur," said Shantikumar.
The BJP president told the media that the memorandum will demand that of essential commodities and petroleum products be made available at a reasonable price in markets across the state, action against black marketeers and compensation money of Rs 5000 per family from the government to offset the artificially created price rise following the economic blockade.
Besides, the memorandum will asked the government to settle the Sadar Hills issue at the earliest possible date.
L Basanta Sharma, publicity and media in-charge of BJP, also informed the media of impending state visit of LK Advani in the first week of November.