Condemning the continuous increasing prices of essential commodities, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday staged a sit-in protest at its premises, Congress Bhawan in Imphal as a part of the nationwide campaign launched by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
During the protest, the committee demanded the immediate reduction of the prices of all the petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, gas cylinder, piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG).
Addressing media at the side-lines of the protest, CLP leader Okram Ibobi Singh said that the BJP-led government had made several promises for the welfare of people at the time of election. But unfortunately, right after the election, all the prices of essential commodities skyrocketed. Such steps of the BJP government have hit everyone hard particularly the poor people of the state.
The Congress will continue to fight against such anti-poor people policies of the BJP government, he stated while appealing the government to frame a policy to avail all petroleum products at a cheaper price even if the prices are hiked at international market.
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"Increasing the prices of petroleum products does not affect those economically sound much but it really affects those living from hand to mouth. The congress party will not remain silent in this kind of decision of the BJP government,” he added while stating that taking the responsibility of being an opposition party, the Congress party conducted the protest nationwide.
Recalling the stand of Congress party taken at the time of COVID-19 pandemic, he said that the BJP-led government even tried to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine with the help of selective companies. However, the decision was withdrawn at the end when the Congress party demanded for universalization of COVID-19 vaccination.
During the protest, MPCC leaders garlanded empty LPG cylinders and vehicles with empty fuel tanks as a mark of condemnation of constant increase of petroleum products. They shouted slogans such as ‘Down Down BJP Government’ and used banners like “They couldn’t ensure ache din. Gas prices shoot to Rs 949.5 to Rs 410” and so on.
