Dibrugarh: Members of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) staged a protest at Jonai town in Dhemaji district on Thursday as part of a statewide agitation against the escalating prices of essential commodities, fuel, and life-saving medicines. The demonstrators burned effigies of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the food and civil supplies department, voicing strong anger over what they termed as the government's failure to curb runaway inflation and provide relief to citizens.
Coordinated Protests Across Assam
The protest in Jonai was part of a coordinated series of demonstrations held across Assam by AJYCP units, reflecting growing public frustration over fuel prices. Petrol and diesel rates have been hiked four times since the announcement of the Assam assembly elections on May 4, a surge that has had a cascading effect on the cost of essential goods and medicines.
“The situation before the assembly elections was entirely different from what people are facing today. Since the election declaration on May 4, petrol and diesel prices have been hiked four times. This is a direct assault on the pockets of citizens,” said AJYCP Jonai unit general secretary Nayan Jyoti Gohoi.
Impact on Common People
Protesters argued that repeated fuel price hikes have driven up the cost of vegetables, groceries, and life-saving medicines across the board, making life increasingly unaffordable for low and middle-income families. They accused the food and civil supplies department of failing in its fundamental responsibility to regulate the market and protect consumers from exploitation.
“Black marketeers are operating freely, while the administration looks the other way. We demand a decisive crackdown on hoarding and artificial price inflation. The government must move beyond empty assurances and take concrete steps,” Gogoi added.
Demands for Government Intervention
The organization demanded the Chief Minister's intervention to bring relief to the people and called on relevant departments to enforce strict price controls across the state. The protest in Jonai was marked by sloganeering and the burning of effigies, symbolizing the public's anger over the rising cost of living.
