The Manipur Left parties has stated that it is prepared to carry out agitations if the government does not decrese the excise duty on petrol and diesel, considering the hardships being faced by the common people due to COVID-19.
In the past 14 days, the price of petrol increased by Rs 8.23 per litre and Rs 9.20 per litre for diesel, said a release.
The increase in prices of petrol and diesel is due to the handover of the authority in setting the prices to oil companies by the Narendra Modi government, it said.
So the rules and regulation that existed in 2017 to let the government decide the prices should be brought back, it stated. The actions of these oil companies are in fact criminal, it added.
The release further stated that Rs 7,500 should be deposited to bank accounts of those who are not paying income taxes for the next six months and 10 kg of rice should be distributed to the low income families free of cost.
The Left parties will support the strike by the workers from July 2 to 8 against the privatisation of some corporations. Also they will support the nation-wide protest on July 2 being called by the central trade unions, it added.
