Congress protests against price rise in Guwahati; around 100 members detained

GUWAHATI: A hue-and-cry erupted in front of the Assam Congress' head office in Guwahati as the party's most prominent leaders took to the streets to stage a massive protest against the rising prices of petrol, diesel, and other essential commodities.

At one point, the protest turned ugly after security personnel arrived to keep the Congress agitators in check. Several times, the Congress members tried to push through the barricades, but were pushed back every time.

Newly-elected MLA Sibamoni Bora, who was one of the detainees, said that the BJP should immediately roll back the prices.

She further added that the people want vaccines and not "alcohol at their doorsteps."

Congress president Ripun Bora was dragged away by the personnel and detained. In all, around 100 members of the party were detained at the protest, said party spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma.

Debabrata Saikia, MLA representing Nazira, said that the ruling party has clamped down on the protest as "they do not wish for the people to know that they have failed on their promises."

Saikia blamed the government for the spike in prices as it refuses to lower the exercise and declared that the government has declared a "daily emergency."

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"Instead what they have done is they have lowered the corporate tax for their industrialist friends," he added.

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Kaliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi, talking to media amid the ruckus, said that the chief minister "must take responsibility and cannot push it towards the finance minister."

"The chief minister himself was a finance minister. He was aware that there were many falsehoods in their election manifesto. Therefore, he is also responsible," said Gogoi.

Some party workers were even seen distributing sweetmeats and roses to "celebrate" the price of petrol "almost touching Rs.10."

"Petrol-diesel prices have rocketed up. Petrol has touched Rs. 100. In joy, to celebrate the success of the BJP-led government, we are distributing sweets and roses," said a party worker taking a jibe at the ruling party.

Congress party's crusade against price-rise:

Skyrocketing prices have burned deep holes in pockets of consumers across the country, and the Congress is using this as a 'trump card' against the BJP across India.

Even as the prices have continued rising, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has revved up its campaign against the BJP, which it blames for its "failure" to keep things under control.

The Indian National Congress has held a 10-day nationwide agitational programme against skyrocketing fuel prices and increasing inflation which culminates today.

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