Cong holds protest against fuel price rise

SHILLONG: With Congress announcing nationwide protest against the hike in petrol and diesel prices, the 17 North Shillong Block Congress Committee on Sunday held a dharna in front of Congress Bhavan in the city.
The protest was led by the president of North Shillong Block Congress Committee, Sanlang Kharkongor, in the presence of the working president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, James Lyngdoh. Representatives of the units along with Mahila and Youth Congress took part in the protest.
Kharkongor, in his speech, condemned Centre for hiking the fuel prices across the country.
“Oil prices are at its highest today than it has ever been and because of this, vast majority of the population has been affected, and the major impact would on be the less-privileged section, the voiceless, the disadvantaged group of our country,” he said.
“At the time when crude oil prices were falling, the fuel prices have increased. The excise duty on petrol and diesel has greatly affected the majority, putting an additional burden on the transport sector. This automatically would escalate the prices of essential commodities, especially amidst the pandemic, which is very unjust, especially at a time when people are running out of business and losing their jobs,” he added.