SHILLONG, Jan 15: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee observed the Kisan Adhikar Diwas (farmer’s right day) at Congress Bhawan here on Friday to express solidarity with the farmers who are protesting at Delhi for the repeal of three “black farm laws”, while also demanding a decrease in prices of petrol and diesel.
Addressing the gathering, MPCC working president, James S Lyngdoh, observed that Modi government seems to have adopted a strategy of tiring out the protesting farmers, without paying any heed to their demands. “So it is on this Kisan Adhikar Diwas the party invites everyone to join in demanding repeal of the black laws”, Lyngdoh said.
Speaking about Centre’s “anti-people measure”, he said that the government has increased the excise duty on petrol from Rs 9.20 per litres (in May 2014) to Rs 32.98 at present; while on diesel, it has increased from Rs 3.46 per litre in 2014 to Rs 31.83 now, despite price of crude decreasing from US dollar 110 per barrel in 2014 to US dollar 50 per barrel at this time. “Hence extorting Rs 19 lakh crore from the people,” he added.
The party functionaries and members uploaded clippings on social media to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.