Port Blair, July 24 (Agency) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday organized a procession at Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to protest against the frequent hike in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG and against the imposition of GST on certain essential commodities such as pre-packed rice, wheat, milk, pulses, curd, paneer, meat, fish, jiggery, etc. The party also highlighted the issue of frequent power cuts at Port Blair and South Andaman rural areas during the last few months. The procession which was taken out from the Crusade House premises at Phoenix Bay, Port Blair after making a round of some important areas of the Port Blair town, culminated in front of the Port Blair Municipal Council office at Aberdeen Bazar. An empty LPG cylinder and food items like rice, atta, sugar, etc on which GST has been imposed recently were also carried during the procession.
Addressing the gathering at the conclusion of the procession, D. Ayyappan, State Secretary, CPI (M) A&N Islands said that the central government is imposing additional burden on the people by hiking the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG frequently. He said that Rs. 50 has been increased on LPG cylinders this month. Almost all the pre-packed essential food items like rice, atta, dal, etc. have been brought under the ambit of GST. He expressed concern over the failure of the BJP-led central government and A&N Administration to provide uninterrupted power supply for the islanders despite the party and other organizations agitating on it over the last several months. D. Laxman Rao, State Secretariat Member criticised the A&N Administration for the failure of the BJP-led government and Administration to resolve various issues of the people. Addressing the gathering B. Chandrachoodan, State Secretariat Members dealt with the hollow promises made by the BJP before the 2014 Parliament Election.