AITUC threatened to call general strike on diesel price hike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 15 2012:
Taking strong exception to the UPA Government's decision to hike diesel price by Rs 5, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) has threatened to call general strike if the diesel price is not slashed to its original price by September 18 .
Speaking to media persons at their Rupmahal Tank office today, AITUC Manipur State secretary L Sotinkumar accused the UPA Government of hiking prices of petroleum products every now and then thereby inflicting grievous misery to the common people.
Counting the recent hike, diesel price has been hiked ten times by the UPA Government and its rate has jumped from Rs 23.25 per litre to Rs 46.32 per litre.
This is unacceptable, Sotinkumar said.
Such random escalation in diesel price would cause serious economic blow to the people particularly farmers.
Central trade unions have been already protesting vehemently against the diesel price hike.
Likewise, if the price is not slashed to its original rate by September 18, all sorts of agitation including general strike would be launched in Manipur too, he warned.
Alleging that the UPA Government's policy of hiking oil prices is inhuman, Sotinkumar said that a mass campaign would be launched against the same policy from tomorrow.
This policy has anguished the people, particularly the working class.
AITUC would submit a memorandum to both the State Government and the Union Government, he added.
Meanwhile, CPI Manipur State Council has demanded roll back of diesel price hike as well as payment of compensation to farmers who cannot cultivate paddy due to vagaries of monsoon rainfall.
Hike in diesel price obviously means escalation in prices of all essential commodities which would only push the common people into greater misery.
Such policy of the UPA Government has exposed their favouritism towards wealthy and privileged class.
A press release issued by CPI Manipur State Council further asserted that no foreign direct investment (FDI) should be allowed in retail sector.