Memorandum Submitted to Chief Minister Through District Commissioner Demanding Reduction in Petrol, Diesel and LPG Prices
Barak Bani Digital Desk, Silchar, May 21: Amid an unprecedented rise in the prices of essential commodities such as petrol, diesel, cooking gas, rice, pulses, edible oil and vegetables, the Cachar district committee of SUCI(Communist) staged a strong protest demonstration in Silchar on Wednesday, voicing the growing frustration and hardship faced by common people.
The protest programme, organised in front of the office of the District Commissioner, witnessed the participation of party workers and supporters carrying placards and banners demanding immediate control over rising prices. Slogans such as “Stop price rise”, “Ensure the right to live for the poor”, “Reduce LPG prices” and “Roll back the abnormal hike in petrol and diesel prices” echoed throughout the area, turning the demonstration into a powerful expression of public anger.
Addressing the gathering, SUCI(C) Cachar district committee member Shyamdeo Kurmi alleged that the country’s economic condition had reached a stage where middle-class and lower-income families were struggling to survive. “Every visit to the market brings a fresh shock in the form of rising prices. The government appears completely indifferent to the suffering of ordinary people,” he said. He further stated that the rise in petrol and diesel prices had directly increased transportation costs, thereby pushing up the prices of all commodities in the market. “Cooking gas has become so expensive that many families are being forced to return to traditional fuel sources like firewood and coal. This is not merely an economic crisis, but a severe blow to the everyday lives of people,” he added.
Another speaker, Subrata Chandra Nath, launched a sharp attack on both the Central and State governments, accusing them of failing to control the prices of essential commodities. People’s incomes are not increasing, but their daily expenses are rising continuously. On one hand there is unemployment, and on the other hand uncontrolled inflation. Common people are trapped under this double burden, he remarked.
Speaking at the protest, Ajay Roy alleged that while the government remained busy protecting corporate interests, it had failed to safeguard the minimum living conditions of ordinary citizens. A section of traders is creating artificial scarcity in the market and making huge profits, while the administration has failed to take effective action,” he claimed.
The leaders demanded an immediate reduction in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders, strict market monitoring to control inflation and the restoration of subsidies in the interest of common people. They also warned that if the government failed to take urgent corrective measures, the organisation would launch a larger mass movement in the coming days.
Political observers believe that the issue of rising prices has emerged as one of the biggest concerns among the public in recent times. Escalating costs of food items, education, healthcare and electricity have severely affected household budgets, especially among lower-income groups.
Following the protest, a delegation of SUCI(C) leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Assam through the District Commissioner. The delegation included Shyamdeo Kurmi, Subrata Chandra Nath, Anjan Kumar Chand, Hillol Bhattacharjee and Bijit Kumar Sinha among others.
According to the organisation, the protest was not merely a political programme but a reflection of the daily struggle of ordinary people trying to survive amid relentless inflation. The focus now remains on whether the government will respond effectively to the growing public resentment over the spiralling cost of living.
Barak Bani Dainik
