Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee announced a series of protests against uncontrolled fuel price hikes by the Centre. The party, part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, termed the hikes to be a draconian measure introduced by a demonstrably anti-people Narendra Modi government.
Addressing a press conference, party president Rameshwar Oraon said, “The party will hold protests at district and state headquarters on June 29 against the abrupt fuel price hikes by the union government. At block levels, protests will be held from June 30 – July 4. The uncontrolled fuel price hikes by the centre is further set to push aam admi on the edge, who are already reeling under myriad woes introduced by the unplanned lockdown.”
The Jharkhand government rolled back a Rs 2.50 VAT subsidy on petrol and diesel to rake up revenues for the suffering state treasury, last month. Asked if the state government will reconsider the decision, Oraon, who is also the state finance minister, said, “We don’t have any such proposal and the state government requires money to fund welfare measures at the moment. Moreover, our government hasn’t increased prices or introduced any fresh tax on fuel, we have just taken back the subsidy which was given only to fuel dealers.”
On Friday, the party will observe Shahid Diwas to pay respect to Galwan martyrs by staging a silent sit-in near statues of freedom fighters across the state, for an hour, beginning 11 am.
Oraon backs minister
Oraon also reacted to the controversy surrounding Alamgir Alam, Congress MLA from Pakur and state cabinet minister, over his alleged role in managing government contracts. He said that the BJP is indulging in cheap politics to gain publicity.
A BJP-released audio clip went viral on social media two days ago. In the clip, Alam, and CM Hemant Soren’s local representative in Barhait, Pankaj Mishra, allegedly threatens a contractor in Sahibganj district over phone to not participate in the bidding process for toll collection work under the Bardharwa Nagar Panchayat. The contractor Shambhu Nandan Kumar later filed an FIR on Tuesday night at Barharwa police station in Sahibganj district against Alam, Mishra and four others.
“The audio clip is a ploy to defame our leader. Alamgir is a dedicated and hardworking leader from the Santhal Pargana. The conversation is being taken out of context and projected in a different light,” Oraon remarked.
