Barak Democratic Front (BDF) stages protest against rising petroleum prices

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: There seems to be no brake on the wheel of skyrocketing prices of petroleum products. In protest against it, activists of Barak Democratic Front (BDF) and general public strictly within COVID protocols staged protest demonstration before a petrol pump at Rangirkhari in Silchar on Friday to draw the attention of the Centre and the State for taking effective measures to check it and give relief to hard pressed people. As a symbolic gesture, a scooter with ironic message on the front was dragged by a rope to the petrol pump.

Pradip Dutta Roy, chief convener of the Front who led the demonstration, said the way prices of petrol and diesel continues to rise has hit hard the life of all sections of people. Its cascading effect has led to abnormal rise in the prices of consumer products, vegetables and transportation services. With no check on them, it appears both the Centre and the State are in a blind. Non BJP states squarely blame the Narendra Modi Government, keeping their VAT and excise duties inflexible.

Assam Government, Dutta Roy said, has not curtailed its share of duties and this is quite inexplicable. Himanta Biswa Sarma should give serious thought to it to provide relief to people. According to Jahar Taran, convener, on the basis of information, prices of petrol and diesel in India compared to the neighbouring countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are high. BDF has sent the message if prices are not brought down, it will be forced to launch agitation democratically.

Previous Petroleum Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, attributed the price rise to Centre's push to welfare activities for people, escalation in the price of crude oil in international market and clearance of loans taken on oil bonds by the previous congress government led by Manmohan Singh. These arguments are untenable, pointed out Joydeep Bhattacharjee, convener of the media cell. Bhattacharjee said the centre has to bear the brunt of economic recession in COVID pandemic and is forced to raise the petroleum prices. BDF in SOS message to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has impressed on him to reduce state taxes on petrol and diesel.

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