A sit-in was staged against skyrocketing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas at Irawat Bhawan in Imphal. The protest was organized by Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council, All Manipur Nupi Marup, All India Youth Federation (AIYF) and Manipu Loumi Lup
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The BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Manipur have been accused of “sucking blood of the masses”. After petrol and diesel prices have breached all time high, reduction of just Rs 4 by the BJP Government in Manipur is a political gimmick to project itself as pro-people government, said All Manipur Nupi Marup general secretary L Sumati on Monday.
She was speaking at a sit-in protest against skyrocketing prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas at Irawat Bhawan in Imphal. The protest was organized by Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur State Council, All Manipur Nupi Marup, All India Youth Federation (AIYF) and Manipu Loumi Lup.
L Sumati also said not only petrol and diesel prices remained all time high, the price of cooking gas cylinders was increased to Rs 1,036 and the government has stopped giving subsidies on them. She accused the BJP government of tormenting people who have been reeling under Covid-19 pandemic since 2020, by increasing the fuel price.
Amidst demand for rollback of petrol and diesel price hike, the chief minister is making fun of the hardships faced by people by announcing reduction of just Rs 4 after increasing it to an all time high, she said. If the government is genuinely concerned about people, it could have cut state tax imposed on it, she added.
She further said many farmers who use diesel to raise the crops are left high and dry due to fuel price hike. 85% of Manipur population is the poor and the BJP government seems hell-bent on tormenting them, she said. Alleging that BJP is trying to keep India’s economy in the hands of few rich people, she demanded immediate rollback of price hikes in petroleum products.
Lamenting that the ruling BJP leaders, who did not follow COVID-19 SOP while opening party branch offices and receiving party’s central leadership, are preaching the people to adhere to SOP, she said time is ripe for people to stand up together and oust this anti people government.