Dibrugarh: Members of the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) staged a protest in Dibrugarh on Friday as part of a statewide agitation against the rising prices of essential commodities, demanding govt intervention to ease the burden on common people.Aasu members marched through the city carrying cutouts of LPG cylinders and raised slogans against the BJP-led state govt over the rising prices of petrol, diesel, LPG, cooking oil, medicines, vegetables and other essentials. Similar protests were held across Assam.The protesters alleged that despite securing a massive mandate, the govt failed to control inflation, making daily necessities unaffordable for families.Dibrugarh district Aasu general secretary Samiran Phukon blamed the govt’s price-monitoring mechanism for failing to check inflation. “The task force formed by the govt in each district to check price rise has failed in its purpose. Prices continue to rise unchecked, while black marketeers operate freely. The govt must take action against those artificially inflating prices and exploiting consumers,” Phukon said.
Do you believe the government is doing enough to control rising prices of essential commodities?
He added that price rise should be the central issue in the ongoing assembly session. “The people of Assam gave the BJP-led govt a landmark majority. In return, it is the govt’s responsibility to ensure that essential commodities remain affordable,” he said.Aasu Dibrugarh district president Rupjyoti Borthakur said, “The common man is finding it extremely difficult to survive…We demand immediate intervention.”The organisation later submitted a memorandum to district commissioner Bikram Kairi, addressed to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking urgent measures to control prices and strengthen district-level monitoring task forces.
