City District YCC president Tonton Irom demanded the immediate response from the BJP-led government to ease the grievances of the poor and farmers who are severely affected by the price hikes
TFM Desk
Continuing its protests against unprecedented hike in fuel prices, the City District Youth Congress Committee in association with Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee staged a demonstration at Uripok Oil pump in Imphal on Thursday.
Despite the protest, petrol, diesel prices were hiked once again on Thursday after a brief two-day pause. The increase, 40th since May 4, took fuel prices to a fresh high. Petrol prices were hiked by 34-35 paise per litre on July 15, while cost of diesel increased by 15-16 paise a litre. In Manipur, the price of petrol soared past Rs 105 while diesel costs above Rs 93.
Speaking to media persons, City District YCC president Tonton Irom demanded the immediate response from the BJP led governments to ease the grievances of the poor and the farmers which are severely affected by the price hikes.
He maintained that the rise in prices of petroleum products have a cascading effect on essential commodities which in turn adds woes to the poor and farmers amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Tonton Irom also accused the government of remaining silent on the issue. “They are watching the woes of the people as if they are thinking ‘let them die’ and let others survive who can survive,” he asserted.
He said that the Congress party was echoing what the people of the country and the state felt due to the price hike. To whom we should complain, if not the ruling BJP government, he added.
State PYC general secretary P Bankimchandra Meitei, state secretary Avinash Naorem and Usham Mamglem were also present in the protest.