Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Tuesday staged a protest in Jammu against the rising prices of essential commodities, fuel, cooking gas and other daily-use items, accusing the BJP-led NDA government of failing to control inflation and provide relief to the people.
The protest was led by J&K Congress working president and former minister Raman Bhalla and Jammu Urban president and former minister Yogesh Sawhney, and saw large participation of Congress workers, supporters and locals.
Protesters raised slogans against the Centre and carried placards highlighting the increasing financial burden on households, farmers, traders, labourers and salaried employees due to the rising cost of living.
Addressing the gathering, Bhalla alleged that the steep rise in the prices of food grains, edible oils, vegetables, pulses, cooking gas, petrol, diesel and medicines was the result of what he termed the BJP government’s “pro-rich and anti-poor” economic policies. He claimed that inflation had reached alarming levels, disrupting household budgets and making it difficult for people to meet their basic needs.
Bhalla said the burden of price rise had fallen disproportionately on the poor, middle class, farmers and small traders, while large corporate houses continued to benefit from government policies.
“The BJP government had promised relief to the common man, but every section of society is suffering due to the continuous rise in prices,” he said, urging the Centre to reduce taxes on fuel, strengthen market regulation mechanisms and introduce measures to protect consumers from inflation.
Bhalla further alleged that rising fuel prices had increased transportation costs, contributing to higher prices of essential commodities.
He said unemployment and inflation together had created serious challenges for the youth and economically weaker sections.
DCC Jammu Urban president Yogesh Sawhney also criticised the Centre, alleging that its economic policies had widened the gap between the rich and the poor.
He said inflation had become one of the country’s biggest challenges, with prices of food items, LPG cylinders, electricity and fuel witnessing a steady rise in recent years.
“People are being forced to pay more for every essential item required for daily life. Families are struggling to balance their budgets, while small traders and businessmen are also feeling the impact of rising costs,” Sawhney said.
He claimed that despite public concerns over inflation, the government had failed to take adequate steps to control prices and improve the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.
Sawhney added that women managing household budgets were among the worst affected by the continuous increase in prices of food items and cooking gas.
