JAMMU, Jun 1: Mission Statehood President Sunil Dimple on Monday led a protest rally on Janipur High Court Road against the recent increase of Rs 42 in commercial LPG cylinder prices and the continued rise in petrol and diesel rates.
A large number of hotel owners, traders, restaurant operators, sweet shop owners, tea stall vendors and workers participated in the demonstration, expressing concern over the increasing burden of inflation on businesses and consumers alike.
Addressing the gathering, Dimple strongly criticized the Central Government, describing the latest hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices as a major setback for small businesses and the common people. He alleged that repeated increases in fuel and cooking gas prices have adversely affected the hospitality and food sectors across Jammu and Kashmir.
Dimple said the increase in commercial LPG prices has compelled eateries, sweet shops, bakeries, hotels, restaurants and tea stalls to raise the prices of food items, thereby placing an additional burden on consumers. He alleged that fast food outlets, home delivery services and other food establishments have become increasingly expensive, affecting poor and middle-class families.
Demanding immediate relief, Dimple urged the Government to roll back the recent hike in domestic and commercial LPG cylinder prices and bring LPG, petrol and diesel under the GST regime. He also called for exemption of toll taxes and other levies on essential fuels to reduce the financial burden on consumers.
Raising concerns over the availability of LPG, Dimple alleged that consumers are facing delays of up to 25 days in obtaining cylinder refills. He further alleged incidents of black marketing of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that domestic cylinders are being sold at inflated prices ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000, while commercial cylinders are allegedly being sold for as much as ₹4,000 in the black market.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and reverse the increase in LPG prices. He also expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities, including milk, food grains, edible oils, pulses and other household necessities.
Dimple alleged that soaring prices of vegetables, onions, tomatoes, flour, rice, milk, curd and cheese have made it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their household expenses. He further criticized the functioning of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, alleging that it has failed to effectively regulate market prices and protect consumers from inflation.
Warning of intensified public agitation if the demands are not addressed, Dimple said the Government must take urgent steps to control inflation and provide relief to the common man. He alleged that the rising cost of living has pushed many essential goods beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
Among those present during the protest were H.R. Gupta, Mintoo Sudhier, Karan Pardan, Vicu, Ajay, Suny Agarwal, Vipan, Mukesh, Ram Kumar Das, Rakesh Sharma, Vicky, Shafi Khan, Akbar Khan, Nazir, Shafi and several other hoteliers and traders.