JAMMU: The Congress on Thursday staged a protest demonstration at Maheshpura Chowk in Bakshi Nagar, Jammu, against the rising prices of essential commodities, LPG cylinders, fuel and other daily-use items, accusing the BJP-led government of failing to provide relief to the common people.
The protest was organised by senior Congress leader Thakur Manmohan Singh along with Block President Pawan Sharma under the leadership of District Congress Committee Jammu Urban President and former minister Yogesh Sawhney. The demonstration was presided over by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla and attended by senior party leaders, including Ravinder Sharma, Ved Mahajan, Rajneesh Sharma and Kanta Bhan.
A large number of Congress workers participated in the protest and raised slogans against the government over inflation and the increasing cost of living.
Addressing the gathering, Raman Bhalla criticised the Central Government for what he termed its failure to control inflation and provide relief to the public. He said the rising prices of essential commodities, cooking gas, petrol, diesel and other daily-use items have placed a heavy burden on middle-class families, labourers, traders, youth and economically weaker sections.
He alleged that inflation and unemployment have pushed many households into financial distress and urged the government to take immediate measures to reduce the prices of fuel, LPG cylinders and essential commodities.
Bhalla further accused the government of neglecting public concerns and claimed that economic policies were disproportionately affecting poor and salaried sections of society.
District President Jammu Urban and former minister Yogesh Sawhney said the continuous rise in prices has made it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage household expenses. He said women managing households and unemployed youth are among the worst affected by the prevailing economic conditions.
Sawhney asserted that the Congress would continue democratic protests against what he described as anti-people policies and would continue to raise issues concerning public welfare and economic justice.
Speaking on the occasion, JKPCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma alleged that inflation had reached unprecedented levels and accused the government of failing to address the concerns of common citizens. He demanded immediate intervention to control prices and provide relief to consumers.
Former DCC President Thakur Manmohan Singh said the protest was organised to highlight the hardships being faced by traders, labourers, employees, pensioners and economically weaker sections due to rising prices and inflation.
He said the Congress would continue its campaign against price rise and intensify its agitation until effective measures are taken to reduce the financial burden on the public.
Several senior Congress leaders and workers, including Amrit Bali, Sanjeev Sharma, Asha Chanden, Raj Bakshi, Anirudh Sawhney, Sandeep Dogra, Mangal Bral, Rajesh Sharma, Sohit Sharma, Jatin Vashisht, Rajiv Saraf, Balbir Balli and others, participated in the protest.
