AMSU accused the state government of being hand in glove with some businessmen and alleged that the recent price list of essential commodities set by the government was done in collusion between them
TFM Report
Keeping close tabs over the prices of essential commodities in the market, student bodies of the state have been conducting drives to check whether businessmen and shopkeepers are complying with the prices recently fixed by the state government.
A team of Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) activists conducted a drive on Wednesday in Imphal and found that a wholesale shop was selling commodities without displaying the price list and a godown was selling commodities secretly. They were immediately closed by the activists.
The MSF team conducted the drive at Nilakuthi, where several godowns are located, and around the Thangal Bazar area to check whether the shops were conducting business adhering to the guidelines provided by the state government.
MSF joint secretary Thekcham Rojit said a godown named Papu Manchi at Nilakuthi was selling commodities secretly and without displaying a price list, as mandated by a state government order. A wholesale shop named Navichand Mahavir Mahaprasad at Thangal Bazar was also found conducting business without displaying the price list, he added.
He also said that amidst the prevailing situations induced by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, it is really unfortunate that some businessmen are trying to profit from and also trying to dupe the people. MSF will continue to conduct such drives and those businesses found flaunting the rules will be shut down by the student body, he warned.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) accused the state government of being hand in glove with some businessmen and alleged that the recent price list of essential commodities set by the government was done in collusion between them.
AMSU demanded that a new price list should be issued and until then the existing one should not be allowed.
Speaking to media persons at AMSU Headquarter, DMU Campus, on Wednesday, AMSU human resource development secretary Mani Ningthoujam said that the student body has been urging the state government not to allow businessmen to take advantage of the second wave by selling essential commodities at arbitrary prices.
On April 24, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department issued the price list of 17 essential commodities for retail and wholesale. But it was found that the price of some of the commodities were higher than that of the existing market price. AMSU met with the CAF&PD commissioner in this regard on April 26, he said.
AMSU also urged the state government to let the Price Fixation Committee, Legal Metrology Department and Consumer Club (Cell) function properly.