Cong protests rising fuel and goods prices
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 11 2021:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday organised sit-in protests in front of different oil pumps across the state demanding the BJP-led government to lower the prices of petroleum products and other items and alleviate the suffering of the people amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking of the sidelines of the protest, MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam contended that there is no hope for the economy of the country as long as the BJP government is in power.
During the sit-ins, which were staged as per the instructions of AICC, the protesters shouted slogans condemning the government for the rising prices.
Speaking at the sit-in staged at Congress Bhavan here, MPCC general secretary Hareshwar Goswami pointed out that the rising prices have greatly affected the poor people of the country and the state, especially during this Covid pandemic.
The PM Modi-led government must immediately take steps to lower the prices or resign immediately, he demanded.
Govindas, who was also present at the sit-in, said that although global fuel prices have fallen, the government of India decided to hike the fuel prices in the country along with raising the prices of other essential goods when the people are battling for their lives against the Covid pandemic.
As such, Congress, under the wisdom of AICC president, staged the protest to demand lowering of the prices of petrol and other goods.
"The people are already aware that the PM launched the free vaccination programme after the people protested for a universal vaccination programme and the Supreme Court pulled up the government for not doing the same.
Similarly, if the people do not expose constant hiking of prices of fuel and other goods, it would provide an opportunity to the government to continue suppressing the people", he remarked.
Commenting on the condition of the economy, Govindas said that the PM Modi-led government has no capable economist and as such, it would be useless to discuss the economy, as already stated by BJP MP Subramaniam Swami.
"The incumbent RBI governor Saktikanta Das is a historian and thus, will have limited knowledge about economy.
He was appointed to the post for his support of the government's decision on demonetisation.
Presently, India's GDP has fallen way below that of Bangladesh.
The people cannot hope for the economy to improve as long as the BJP government, which does have a clear policy, remains in power.
In Manipur's context, the BJP-led state government issues one order in the morning and another in the evening", the party president said.
Stating that the present Biren-led state government is a failed government, Govindas said that the government cannot save the people, leave alone feed the people who are staying in Covid centres.
One can only wonder how the third wave will be considering the apathy of the government during the second wave of the pandemic.
"The law of the state is whatever the CM wants to be or wants it to be.
It is practically non-existent when it comes to other aspects", he remarked.