Meghalaya: HYC members hold black flag rally against fuel price hike

SHILLONG:

Members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on October 22 took out a protest rally against fuel price rise demanding deduction of taxes on petrol, diesel and LPG by 50 per cent.

Holding placards and banners, members of the council along with the common people marched from Motphran to Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) shouting slogans against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government. The members also tied placards bearing slogans on black balloons and released them in the air as a mark of protest.

The activists also hung banners bearing slogans on their way to Khyndailad and were ultimately stopped by the magistrate and police officials given the Covid-19 restrictions in place.

Speaking to the press, HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem said, "Today's protest was staged against this unprecedented hike in the prices of petrol and diesel. As of today, the price of petrol stood at Rs 101 - Rs 102 and diesel up by Rs 94 - Rs 95."

He said that the hike in fuel price will have a huge impact on poor people, including farmers, who rely on public transportation for everything. "If this continues, the commercial vehicles will increase their fares, which will lead to an increase in prices of other commodities,” Synrem asserted, adding that the government must take some concrete steps to control the situation.

Synrem also said that the government must find ways to reduce unnecessary expenditures, he said. "The present ruling government is spending so much in paying perks to many chairmen, co-chairmen, members of "useless" committees, boards and commissions," he alleged.

HYC also asserted that the state government must initiate talks with the centre on the matter if a resolution cannot be reached at the state level.

Earlier on October 21, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had said that the issue of fuel price hike will be discussed once the bye-elections are over. “I cannot commit anything right now but the government has taken note of it and after the bye-elections, we (cabinet) will sit down to discuss the issue,” he had said.

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