Decrying the sudden price hike on petrol and diesel amid the ongoing lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee and Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee staged a sit-in-protest on Monday, at the office of Mayang Imphal Block Congress Committee.
Speaking to the media, one member of Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee said for the first time in the history, the price of diesel is higher than that of petrol. Amid the pandemic, the people across the country have been suffering due to the outbreak of COVID-19. On the other hand, the BJP government has hiked the price of petrol and diesel, she added.
She said the protest is not staged for the interest of the party but for the welfare of the public. The central government must reduce the price hike immediately, else various protests will be followed, she cautioned.
President of Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee, Y Mahananda said the price of crude oil is reduced but the price of petrol and diesel has increased instantly for the country. The government should reduce the price hike for the welfare of the people, he said.
The protest was conducted by holding placards which read, ‘Tax extortionist BJP govt., responsible for arbitrary fuel price hike, roll back excess tax and cess on fuel’, ‘stop looting public during pandemic’, ‘cut excise duties on petrol and diesel’, ‘no more price hike of petrol-diesel’ and others.
