In Guwahati, Assam TMC massive protest on prices of commodities

Guwahati: The Assam Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday (August 08) staged a massive protest in front of the Kamrup Metropolitan District Commissioner (DC) office against the hike in prices of essential commodities including medicines.
The protest was led by Assam TMC chief and former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora.
Hundreds of workers and supporters of the Mamata Banerjee-led party raised slogans, chanting slogans against the BJP-led government in Assam and accusing the party of failing to control rampant inflation.
The protestors raised slogans like, “bazaar mein samaan ka aag barabar daam, jai Shri Ram, jai Shri Ram.”
Police had erected barricades at the protest site to prevent the protesters from entering the district commissioner’s office.

When the protest turned violent, there was a scuffle between the protesters and the police.

Talking to the media, Ripun Bora said that the inflation has left the common man confused. Before the 2014 general elections, the BJP had promised to curb inflation if the party came to power. The saffron party came to power riding on affiliation. Even after being in power for nine years, the party did nothing to control inflation.
“Not only essential items, the BJP-led government has increased the prices of medicines by 20 per cent. Earlier, common people were suffering due to the increase in the prices of essential items and now they cannot afford to buy medicines. Will die. Is this BJP’s sabka saath everyone’s development,” asked the Assam TMC chief.
Several protesters, including Bora, were detained by the police and taken to the nearby Latasal Police Station.
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)’s discussion on the inflation situation in the country began on Tuesday (08 August) and will continue for the next three days.
The MPC is a six-member body with three each nominated by the RBI and the central government and is responsible for maintaining price stability in the country.

The RBI governor will announce the outcome of the meeting on Thursday (August 10).
The recent sharp rise in essential commodity prices and the US Fed’s July rate hike are two major questions the MPC will take into account before deciding on the policy rate.

All eyes are now on what the RBI decides about the inflation and growth rate of the country.