NPCC stages protest in Dimapur against fuel and LPG price hikes, demanding relief and rollback of taxes
Share
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Saturday staged a protest rally at Naga Shopping Arcade (Supermarket) near Town Hall in Dimapur against the recent hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices.
Addressing the rally, NPCC Working President Apok Jamir said that the rising prices of petrol, diesel and LPG were making life difficult for ordinary citizens. He added that farmers, workers, transport operators and homemakers were all suffering due to increasing living costs and alleged that the BJP government had failed to provide relief.
Jamir urged the government to roll back the fuel and cooking gas price hikes and called on citizens, civil society organisations and elected representatives to raise their voices for the welfare of the people. He said that the agitation was not merely a protest but a movement for justice and the rights of common citizens.
Also read: Fuel supply stable across Nagaland, OMCs urge public to avoid panic buying
Nagaland mulls curbs on heavy vehicles on national highways ahead of monsoon
Dimapur District Congress Committee (DCC) President Kutoho Chishi said that the issue was not political but one that affected the public at large. He urged all sections of society to speak out against the rising prices of essential commodities.
Chishi claimed that the Nagaland government was imposing a VAT of 16.94% on petrol and 12.83% on diesel, and alleged that the tax burden was adding to the hardships faced by the people.
He appealed to the BJP-led government at the Centre and the coalition government in Nagaland to immediately reduce the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
WATCH MORE:
Speaking at the rally, Rajesh Kumar Sethi, National Coordinator of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Minority Department, said that the BJP-led government frequently blamed the Congress for rising fuel prices by citing oil bonds. He claimed that oil bonds were first introduced during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002.
Sethi further alleged that despite collecting substantial revenue through taxes on petrol and diesel, the Narendra Modi-led government had failed to provide relief to consumers. He claimed that during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, when global crude oil prices were significantly higher, fuel and LPG prices remained comparatively lower than they are today.
Alleging that petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices had become unaffordable for many households, Sethi accused the central government of prioritising the interests of a few corporate groups over the welfare of ordinary citizens.
NPCC Research Cell Chairman Meshenlo Kath said that the impact of rising prices was being felt by all Nagas, regardless of whether they openly expressed their concerns. He said that the protesters were representing the interests of the people and urged the public not to view the demonstration through a partisan lens.
Kath maintained that the protest was being held in the public interest and because no other organisation had taken up the issue of rising prices. He alleged that genuine public concerns were often politicised instead of being addressed and called on citizens to be more aware of their rights and speak out against issues affecting society.
He also urged Congress leaders in Nagaland to actively perform the role of an opposition party despite the party not having any MLA in the state Assembly.