The left parties demanded that the Modi government must immediately give direct cash transfers of Rs. 7500 per month for six months to all families not in the income tax paying bracket.
TFM Desk
As part of the Nationwide Fortnight Protest against the price hike in petroleum products and essential commodities, the left parties in Manipur — CPI, CPI(M), RSP, and AIFB are also going to hold protests from June 16 to 30, 2021. State level protest action will be held on June 16 at Imphal.
Members of CPI, CPI(M), RSP and AIFB met on Saturday at Irawat Bhawan, BT Road Imphal and discussed the socio-political and economic conditions of Manipur during the raging second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting of the four Left Parties felt that more assaults on people’s livelihood are being mounted by this relentless rise in prices of all essential commodities and petroleum products.
A joint release by the four left parties stated that instead of helping people to combat the ravages of the COVID-19 health catastrophe, the Modi government hiked the prices of petroleum products by at least 21 times after the announcement of results of the recent assembly elections on May 2, 2021. This is leading to a cascading inflationary spiral with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rising to an 11 year high.
The prices of food articles have risen by nearly 5 per cent in April. Primary commodities saw a rise of 10.16 per cent and manufactured products have risen by 9.01 per cent. By the time these commodities reach the retail markets, the consumers are charged much more, the release stated.
“This is happening while the economy is witnessing a deep recession, galloping unemployment, collapsing purchasing power and rising levels of hunger. Clearly, unscrupulous black-marketing and hoarding is taking place under state patronage. The Modi government must strictly crackdown on such black-marketing especially of essential drugs, vital for people’s survival,” it asserted.
The left parties also demanded that the Modi government must immediately give direct cash transfers of Rs. 7500 per month for six months to all families not in the income tax paying bracket.
It further demanded that the provisions announced by PM Modi regarding extension of PMGKAY till Diwali of 5 kgs of foodgrains is completely inadequate and does not cover the most needy. 10 kg food grains per month to all individuals including a food kit with pulses, edible oil, sugar, spices, tea etc. must be distributed free, it added.