Imphal, July 03, 2010: Protest against price hike which would continue in series in the state organised by Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur State Council has kicked off today with a sit-in-demonstration cum public meeting at Major Khul community hall, Imphal.

CPI leaders taking part in the protest criticized the Central as well as state governments for not enabling to address the plight of the common people of Manipur with regard to hiking up of prices of the essential commodities.

They said that even after two weeks had passed since the lifting of the economic blockade on the highways, the prices of the essential commodities and petroleum products is sky rocketing in the state.

Governance people are remaining mum without taking up any action to address the suffering of the people, they lamented.

Essential commodities, vehicles fuel, fertilizers etc.

are available in very high prices in the grey markets.

This shows that these items are coming into the state or in the stock.

Businessmen and traders are colluding with governance people in sucking blood of the common people, they charged.

Pointing out that fuel retail outlets are remaining close while petrol and diesel are available in the grey markets at unusual prices and selling openly every nook and corners of the streets, they lamented that this shows that there is stock in the oil depot but selling in to the grey marketers from the back door.

Considering the plight of the drivers and truckers of freight trucks plying on the national highways, highway protection force should be immediately set up and deployed on the national highways passing through the state and in other states were freight trucks travel to protect them from anti-social elements, she demanded.

CPI state secretary Langol Iboyaima said that the state council is to launch the protest as part of countrywide protest planned of the opposition parties at the Centre.

He said that the protest kicked off today will be followed by a demonstration rally in which only women will participated on the next day, July 4.On the third day of protest series, down to dusk (6 am to 6 pm) cease work strike will be observed.

The party is demanding control price hike, take action to stop disturbances on the national highways in the state, set up and deploy national highway protection force on the highways and ensure availability of essential commodities to the people among others, Iboyaima added.

He also demanded supply of diesel and fertilizers to the farmers at subsidies rate and making regular distribution of fuel at the petrol filling stations and reduction of prices of the petroleum products recently increase by a decision of the UPA government at the Centre etc.

Despite the lifting of the economic blockade on the national highways, people are experiencing scarcity of essential commodities apart from getting at higher rates, Iboyaima observed and demanded that government should take up appropriate action to relief the common people for the clutch of scarcity and consuming at higher prices.

He also criticized the UPA government at the Centre for not enabling people relief from suffering due to uncheck hiking of the prices of goods during its rules for two consecutive terms.

Many leaders of the party like assistant secretary, L Sotinkumar, executive member, A Lala and leaders of state level women bodies talked at the public meeting-cum-dharna participated by a good numbers of workers and supporters of the party.

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