Shillong, Sept 13: Expressing dissatisfaction with the Meghalaya Government’s handling of the escalating prices of essential commodities, the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) staged a sit-in protest on Friday, condemning the state’s indifference to the soaring costs.
The party expressed frustration over the lack of focus on the issue during the recent Assembly session. VPP Chief and Nongkrem legislator, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, voiced his concerns: “The Assembly is meant to give opposition MLAs the space to discuss issues affecting the people, but over the past few years, this opportunity has been taken away by the ruling coalition.”
Basaiawmoit criticized ruling party MLAs for using the Assembly to raise grievances rather than addressing them directly with ministers. “It feels like an attempt to block the opposition from raising critical issues,” he remarked.
He further pointed out that the Speaker’s actions during the recent session reflected this bias, as no substantial discussion was allowed on the price rise issue. “The Speaker should have permitted debate so the concerned minister could respond. Instead, the minister merely listed the steps the government has taken, leaving us no choice but to protest,” Basaiawmoit explained.
He assured the public that the VPP would continue to address the issue, saying, “We are committed to following up and will protest again if necessary. This sit-in demonstration is a mark of protest against the price rise that has severely affected the common man.”
When asked about the root causes of the problem, Basaiawmoit highlighted the absence of railways in Meghalaya as a possible factor contributing to price inflation. However, he urged the government to provide comparative data. “We’ve done a comparison with other states like Mizoram and Assam, where prices are notably cheaper,” he said.
He also drew attention to the issue of toll gates along state and national highways. “Beef in Dimapur is Rs 300, while here it’s almost double at Rs 500 to Rs 600. The abundance of toll gates, including those by district councils and police, is a significant contributor to price hikes,” he argued.
Additionally, Basaiawmoit expressed concern over the exploitation of farmers, who are forced to sell their produce at low rates while consumers continue to face exorbitant prices for basic commodities. “It’s the state government’s duty to investigate and take action. The failure to monitor and enforce price regulations is a key reason behind this,” he stated.
The VPP has urged the government, particularly the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, to step in and address the violations of government-fixed prices, adding, “There has been no proper follow-up on these matters due to the government’s failure.”