Ibobi tongue lashes BJP Govt over price rise
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Imphal, October 31 2021: While asserting that Congress party believes in non-violence, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Okram Ibobi Singh has said that it would be useless to dream about getting success in election with threat and intimidation as India is the biggest democratic country in the world.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 30th death anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi cum 146th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Iron Man of India) held at Congress Bhawan here on Sunday, the former chief minister also challenged the BJP governments in the state and at the centre to bring prices of petroleum products if they are genuinely concerned for the masses.

"What is the use of providing free LPG connection when the price of the cooking gas is hiked beyond the affordable limit of the ordinary people?" Ibobi asked.

The former chief minister was referring to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) that provides free LPG connection to families below the poverty line.

The scheme, Ibobi alleged, is only for propaganda and not for the welfare of the beneficiaries of the scheme.

"The price of the domestic cooking gas is above Rs 1000 for a refilled cylinder.

Could the poor families afford it?" he further asked.

"The scheme is an anti-poor people scheme in an actual sense," he claimed.

Ibobi then told the BJP government in the state, "If you have the guts, cut the price of the cooking gas to half the current rate so that poor families get the benefit of having a LPG connection".

He further said, "If they bring down the price of LPG to half of the current rate by the incumbent government with a policy of its own, this government can be lauded as a people - centric government".

The former chief minister further took a dig at the BJP government at the Centre over the ever increasing prices of fuels.

He alleged that poor and middle class people are affected the most by the ever increasing prices of petrol and diesel.

The event was organised by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.

After paying floral tributes to portraits of both Indira Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, O Ibobi said that both Sardar Patel and Indira Gandhi were leaders who steadfastly worked for unity and integrity of India and their contributions need to be remembered by the present generation apart from making efforts to fulfil their vision.

Terming election related violence occurring in different parts of the state as very unfortunate, 0 Ibobi said that Congress party never believes in violence and violence in any form would not bring any good result.

Congress party believes in non-violence as espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and it is right of the people to cast vote to candidate of their choice, he said and strongly called for allowing people to choose their right representative in election.

While stating that ever increasing prices of daily essentials have compounded the suffering of the poor people, O Ibobi said that he is fearful of how poor people would survive in the emerging situation and maintained that the existing government need to formulate a concrete policy for the poor people if it really loves the poor people.

The event was also attended by MPCC president N Loken, CWC member Gaikhangam, MPCC working president K Meghachandra, Congress MLAs including D Korungthang former MP and MLAs and PCC members.

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