Congress party workers of north Assam’s Dhemaji district staged ‘dharna’ covering its seven blocks under the district, opposed the central government’s decision to hike fuel prices.
The series of ‘dharna’ launched at Dhemaji sadar on July 1, was culminated at Jonai block on Saturday.
The Congress workers following instruction of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) executed the dharna programme in their respective blocks and submitted separate memorandum to President of India through local administrative officers, demanding roll back of fuel prices.
Dhemaji DCC president Nitu Borgohain during the protest, shapely criticized Narendra Modi–led BJP government.
He said fuel prices has been hiked 22 times since the lockdown, and the BJP is ‘extorting from people’ when they were already facing steep economic losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Congressmen in their memoranda requested the President of India to ask the Central Government to withdraw the hike in fuel prices, stating that it is likely to rob the pockets of common men.
“Constant hike of fuel prices and other essential items is already vulnerable to Coronavirus crisis, but the Central and State governments do not understand the plight of the common man”, Borgohain opined.
Attending the concluding protest at Jonai today, APCC Secretary Sushil Pegu, DCC Vice President Bijoy Pegu, Block President Sanjay Pegu and others vehemently criticized the role of state’s Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for supporting the centre’s move for privatization of the Oil & Natural Gas Commission besides selling of other public properties.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of the country are unable to understand the plight of the common people. The Congress always stands with the poor people at the time of crisis. We have taken a pledge to continue to fight against the central government’s anti-people policies”, said the leaders.