The protest was part of a nationwide fortnight protest by left parties from June 16 to 30 against the price rise in petroleum products and essential commodities.
TFM Desk
Left parties of Manipur — CPI, CPI (M), RSP, AIFB — condemned the Manipur police who allegedly told the leaders of the left parties to refrain from holding a protest meeting at Irawat Bhawan, BT Road, Imphal on Wednesday.
The protest was part of a nationwide fortnight protest by left parties from June 16 to 30 against the price rise in petroleum products and essential commodities. As an inauguration, a “democratic protest meeting” was held inside the campus of Irawat Bhawan and some personnel of Manipur police came and told them not to hold the protest, according to a release by Left Parties Coordination Committee convenor Ksh Shanta.
The left parties are demanding the government to rollback the hiked prices of petroleum products, exemption of central excise and VAT on essential commodities and medicines, controlling prices amongst others.
CPI secretary L Sotinkumar contended that the price of petrol and diesel has been hiked 21 times and it has affected the common men in unimaginable ways. Blaming the BJP led NDA Government at the centre, he asserted that while neighbouring countries are selling petroleum products at a lower price, India is hiking the price only to facilitate and make profits of few riches.
CPI (M) Manipur secretary Ksh Shanta said that when Prime Minister Modi came to power in 2014, the price of crude oil was just Rs 47.12 per litre and it reduced to Rs 29.34 in early part of 2021. He suggested that if the excise tax and VAT being levied by the union and state governments is reduced, then the price of petrol and diesel will also decrease.
CPI Manipur assistant secretary M Joykumar Luwang, secretariat member RK Amusana, Manipur Loumee Lup president N Singhajit, secretary H Ibobi, and AITUC Manipur leader Khoirom Brojen also put forward their views on the issue, the release added.