‘Beef price in Dimapur ₹300 and it’s almost double in Meghalaya’
Shillong, Sept 14: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Friday staged a demonstration against rise in prices of essential commodities and accused the ruling MLAs of depriving the Opposition to raise the vital issue in the floor of the assembly.
Terming demonstration as an alternative to raise the issue, VPP chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said had it not been the “attempt” by ruling MLAs to consume precious time of the House by raising their own issues, the Opposition could have placed it there itself.
“Opposition should be given ample time to discuss important issues affecting the people of the state, but sadly, in the past few years this particular space has been taken away by the ruling MLAs,” he said.
“I feel this is nothing but an attempt to block and take away the opportunity of the opposition MLAs to raise important issues inside the House,” he added.
Blaming the Speaker for “not allowing a discussion” on the issue of price rise in the assembly, Basaiawmoit said, “We are left with no option but to hold the sit-in protest today.”
Absence of Railways a factor
Asked, the VPP chief said the party is of the opinion that the absence of railways in Meghalaya may be one of the factors contributing to the problem of price rise.
“However, if the government is saying the price rise is due to absence of railways, it should also come up with statistics to compare the prices of commodities in other states,” he added.
Basaiawmoit, meanwhile, said that during a comparative study by VPP, prices of essential commodities were found to be cheaper in Mizoram Dimapur.
Expressing concern over too many toll gates along the state and national highways, the VPP chief said, “There are toll gates of Syiem, district councils, police along the roadside.”
Comparing the prices of beef, he said, “Beef in Dimapur is Rs 300 and here it is almost double Rs 500 or Rs 600. If you look at the price rise of beef, we cannot deny that there is shortage of cattle.”
He wondered as to why the farmers had to sell their producers at cheaper rate while the consumers continue to pay exorbitant prices and asked the state government to investigate the issue and take necessary action.
The VPP leader also warned of taking a decision on its future course of action, if the government failed to take action on the matter.
Asserting that VPP’s politics is not just about elections that come in five years, VPP is here to raise issues concerning the people of the state.
“We are doing what we have promised,” he said, adding, “We don’t want to just submit memorandums and do nothing about it.”
