Sawhney slams Centre for surging prices of essentials during pandemic

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 26: Former Minister and Senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney today slammed the Centre for surging prices of essential commodities during the pandemic.
He said that COVID pandemic was a test of the leadership of the country and the Modi Government has miserably failed in it. “Prices of essential goods such as fuel and edible oil among others have drastically affected the public which is already burdened by the second wave of the virus. In fact, the prices of edible oil have surged to their highest levels in over a decade and those of fuel are likewise hard-hitting on the pockets of the common man,” he added.
Sawhney said the retail prices of edible oils have risen over 62 per cent in over a year and is adding woes to consumers already reeling under the economic distress induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. To add to the problem of already high prices, during a time when thousands are dying each day, wholesalers are hoarding essential items like oil, dal, and other ration items, and selling them at higher prices.
“Wholesalers and distributors who are hoarding essential supplies to enhance their personal profits should be immediately reprimanded,” he said, adding, if the Government fails to do so, the Congress party will have no option but to hold protest demonstrations against the Government while adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
The former Minister said if we take the example of prices of diesel and petrol, it is not true that the high prices of fuel are a direct result of international crude oil prices, rather, the fact is that the soaring prices of fuel are a result of this Government’s high taxes and levies.
He further added that despite the plethora of issues that people are facing, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have no forum and no platform to convey their grievances regarding all these problematic issues. The few who represent J&K from the Government are sitting in their Delhi offices cooped up inside without care for the people of J&K.

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