AMSU reluctant to retract its agitation
Says price fixed by the govt too high
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 25 2011: While appreciating the move of the state government in fixing the price of essential commodities as a positive step, AMSU, however, is still reluctant to suspend its agitation, saying that the fixed price is still relatively high as compared the prices prevailing before the economic blockade.

Addressing media persons at a press conference here in its head office in Imphal, VP, AMSU, Abdul Haq said that the so called Imphal Bazar Business Committee, formed by some non Manipuri businessmen of the state have fixed the price of essential commodities to their advantage, saying that the increase in price is due to the increase in transportation charge by transporters.

Without consulting the transporters of the state, who the Imphal Bazar Business Committee accused of increasing the transportation fare rate, the state government and the business committee alone cannot fix the price of essential commodities.

The fixed rate cannot be accepted at all, he said.

He further said that the current rate fixed by the state is not done considering the welfare of the common people but rather in the interest of the business community.

The price of chana, moong dal, musori dal, garlic and chillies has been fixed at the same price as fixed by the Business Committee.

The rate of mangal mapum, kangtak, potato, onion and sugar are reduced at the rate of a mere Rs 1 to 5 only.

Unavailability of essential commodities due to economic blockade is quite reasonable.

But the increase in price of essential commodities cannot be accepted at all.

The government should be aware of such irregularities of the business community, he said.

AMSU will continue with its agitation against price hike as long as the government does not further reduce the price of essential commodities at a reasonable level, if not at the level at which it was before the economic blockade, he said.

He further went on to say that there are also cases where essential items were being sold at a much higher rate than the tagged price.

Even the packaged drinking water manufactured in Manipur is being sold at a higher rate.

AMSU will also start inspecting the companies and agents who sell at prices higher than the tagged price.

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