Dibrugarh: Members of the Asomiya Yuva Mancha and the Asomiya Mahila Mancha staged a protest in Nazira town, Sivasagar district on Friday, carrying empty LPG cylinders, placards, and banners to voice their anger against the relentless increase in prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and essential commodities.
Protest March and Slogans
The demonstrators marched through the town, raising slogans against the government and demanding immediate measures to curb inflation, which has been squeezing ordinary households across the region. The procession saw significant participation from the youth and women's wings of the organization, reflecting growing public frustration over the mounting financial burden on common citizens.
Symbolic Empty LPG Cylinders
The empty LPG cylinder, a prominent symbol of the protest, highlighted the struggle of middle- and low-income households to afford basic necessities amid spiraling prices. Bhargav Tamuli, a leader of the Asomiya Yuva Mancha, said, “The prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas have gone beyond the reach of ordinary people. The common people are suffering. Every visit to the market feels like a punishment. Petrol prices have made transportation unbearable, and cooking gas has become a luxury for many families. The government must step in and take immediate steps to provide relief.”
Women Protesters Speak Out
Members of the Asomiya Mahila Mancha echoed the sentiment, stating that women, as primary managers of household budgets, are bearing the sharpest brunt of the price rise. A woman protester said, “A woman knows best what it means when a cylinder of cooking gas costs this much. Our families are reeling under the burden of rising fuel and food prices. A working mother earning a meager wage cannot manage soaring bills and empty kitchen cylinders. We have come out into the streets so that our cries reach the government.”
Demands for Government Action
The protesters urged the state and central governments to take concrete steps to control the prices of fuel and essential goods. Their demands included reducing taxes on petroleum products, ensuring adequate subsidies on cooking gas, and strengthening the public distribution system to make essential commodities accessible to all sections of society.
