Manipur State Council-Communist Party of India (MSC-CPI) on Tuesday announced to launch a month-long statewide campaign against fuel price hike starting April 8.
MSC-CPI secretary Laishram Sotinkumar told reporters in Imphal on Tuesday that right after the election in five states of India, the BJP-led government has been increasing prices of petroleum products 13 times till date.
Sotinkumar said there is no need to increase the prices of the said essential commodities as the price of crude oil in the international market does not change much. Even after adding all the taxes, the price of petroleum products can be made available at Rs 30 lesser than the current price, which is Rs 109.47 on Tuesday.
The CPI leader alleged that the ultimate reason for the soaring prices of petroleum products is linked with excessive use of money power in the recently concluded elections. The BJP government led by Modi received enough support from the corporate sector during the election. As a return of it, they compelled them to take a step that will benefit the capitalist group, he alleged.
The BJP government is ruling the country under the whims and fancies of corporate groups, he said. They even waived off the loan as a non performing asset if it is not clear by capitalist groups, he said while charging that this BJP government led by Modi is anti-poor and anti-people.
Decrying the commitment of Chief Minister N Biren Singh to make Manipur a corruption free state, he said Manipur is one of the most corrupt states in India.
Instead of just voicing to curb corruption, an initiative should be taken up where all the bureaucrats, political leaders, and high-ranking officials declare their assets in the public domain first.
The Left leader also stated that destroying poppy in large scale is not the only mechanism to curb drug issues in the state. The state government should provide alternative sources of livelihood to poppy cultivators by taking financial assistance from the World Bank or other agencies. Besides this, the government should take legal action against any drug kingpin in the state, he said.
Sotinkumar also said that the state government should take an initiative to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 from Manipur instead of just reducing disturbed area status.
Not withdrawing the Act from hill areas of the state is unfortunate as they are the one who suffer more under the shadow of this Act, he asserted while appealing to repeal the ‘black law’ at the earliest.
