Petrol price in Imphal crosses Rs 100 mark. A recent statement of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh justifying the price hike has kicked up a storm in the state with ruling and opposition parties exchanging barbs.
TFM Report
State units of BJP and Congress locked horns as the price of petrol crossed Rs 100 mark in Imphal. Some political parties have been protesting against the gradual increase of price in petroleum products and essential commodities for some time. But a recent statement of Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh justifying the price hike has kicked up a political storm in the state.
On June 15, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Govindas Konthoujam came down heavily on the chief minister’s remark and demanded an “unconditional public apology to the people of Manipur for his unforgivable and morally very dehumanising words to our poor and needy people in the state during COVID pandemic”.
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The BJP state unit on Wednesday reacted to the MPCC president’s statement and maintained that it was baseless. Instead, the BJP demanded an apology from Govindas for misleading the people.
In a video message, BJP Manipur vice-president Ch Chidananda Singh maintained that the Congress was politicking and criticising the government during such a crucial time of the pandemic and it was unfortunate.
Stating that Biren’s statement was a befitting reply to the Congress, Chidananda asserted that there was no need for the chief minister to tender any apology. Instead, Govindas should apologise for playing “low-level” politics, he demanded.
The BJP Manipur vice-president also said that BJP was surprised that the Congress was trying to confuse the people by presenting incomplete calculations or data.
In another video message, BJP Manipur spokesperson Johnson Elangbam clarified that Biren’s statement was not mocking or looking down on the people. The chief minister was speaking from his heart against some political parties, he added.
Stating that as the pandemic has ravaged the economy, only few sections were left from where revenue can be collected including petrol, diesel, liquor, etc, Johnson assured that the fuel price will come down when the economy opens up as the lockdown induced by the pandemic subsides.
Continuing the back and forth of political mudslinging over fuel price hike, Congress also held a virtual media briefing on Thursday.
Reacting to the BJP Manipur vice-president’s clarification, MPCC media panelist M Sureshkumar said that the statement was both hilarious and sad at the same time. He stressed that the price hike of fuel has added woes to the common people during the raving COVID-19 pandemic.
Criticising Chidananda’s statement, Sureshkumar said, “It seems the BJP Manipur vice-president does not understand the role of Opposition in a democracy”.
Sureshkumar maintained why the MPCC president should apologise when he was merely voicing the suffering of the common people due to the price hike. Apologies are made when someone lies or misleads the people, which Govindas has not committed, he added.
Reacting to the BJP Manipur vice-president’s statement that the government has “de-controlled” (deregulated) the fuel prices, Sureshkumar asked who should control the price, if not the government.
Sureshkumar asserted that the free services provided by the government are not free as it is being bought by the taxes collected gradually from the people. He also pointed out that according to Section 2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the government should provide free food and free shelter. And the Union government has already declared that COVID-19 as a notified disease, he added.
He further condemned the BJP for misleading the people and accused the ruling party of looting the people. The situation is akin to pouring oil on fire, he added.
With the state election less than a year to go, the mudslinging is set to continue. If the ongoing back and forth of allegations are to be taken as a precursor to the upcoming campaign for the election, the state can brace for more heated exchanges.