DIBRUGARH, June 19: Carrying empty LPG cylinders, placards, and banners, members of the Asomiya Yuva Mancha and the Asomiya Mahila Mancha took to the streets of Nazira town in Sivasagar district on Friday in a spirited protest against the relentless rise in prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and essential commodities. The demonstrators marched through the heart of the town, raising slogans against the government and demanding immediate measures to rein in inflation that has been squeezing ordinary households across the region.
The procession drew significant participation from both youth and women's wings of the organisation, reflecting the growing public frustration over the mounting financial burden faced by common citizens. The visible symbol of the protest — an empty LPG cylinder — highlighted the harsh reality of middle-class and low-income households struggling to afford basic necessities in the face of spiralling prices.
Protesters Voice Concerns
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."
Members of the Asomiya Mahila Mancha echoed the sentiment, stressing that women, as primary managers of household budgets, have been bearing the sharpest brunt of the price hike.
Women's Perspective
A woman protester stated: "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 meagre 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 Action
The protesters urged the state and central governments to take concrete steps to control the prices of fuel and essential goods, including 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.
