Farmers burn CM Mann’s effigy over increase in fuel prices

Farmers under the banner of the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) burnt effigies of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at various places in the district on Monday in protest against the increase in VAT on diesel and petrol and reduction in subsidy on electricity tariff.

In one such protest at Ajnala, the protesters stated that the government had shifted the burden of its financial mismanagement on the poor. “The government of AAP in Punjab has been issuing unnecessary and costly advertisements in other states without any justification. Now, it want people to pay by spending more on fuel and electricity, so that it can continue on party’s publicity in other states at the expense of the poor,” said farmer leader Satnam Singh Ajnala.

Ajnala said the increase in VAT alone would cost Rs 3,000 crore annually more to the people of the state. He said reduction in subsidy would further burden the people who could not afford costly electricity.

Seetal Singh Talwandi, state committee member, said, “Poor farmers, shopkeepers, workers and other sections of society are already troubled by the exorbitant prices of daily essentials. The recent hike in diesel and petrol would further initiate a chain reaction of increase in prices as it will make transportation costly.

The RMPI leaders stated that the state government should reconsider its decision.