A lack of communication between the government and public transport owners and operators has led to the two-week long standoff and resulting strike which has hit the public hard, East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said today.
“I think there is the complete failure of communication because Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong is saying something and the agitators are saying something else and there is no middle ground, which has given rise to such a grim situation like this,” Lyngdoh, who refused to use a vehicle in support of the protest against the high price of fuel, told reporters.
Stating that the public wanted information on the State cess on fuel (the level of which has led to the strike), the Congress legislator said, “If you are leaders elected by the people then you have to tell us (about the tax). If an MLA like me is not privy to an explanation on this high tax on petrol and diesel then how will the public know about it?”
She also contrasted the way this government has handled the differences it has with the commercial drivers with the way the Congress, when it was in power previously, dealt with such situations.
“We have been in the government but we have always searched for ways and means to debate and connect with the protestors and find a solution,” she said, adding that she does not want to see Meghalaya return to the times when bandhs and hartals were part of everyday life.
The strike of the Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles (MJACCV) has had a negative impact, especially on those families whose near and dear ones passed away or on weddings scheduled during these days, she pointed out.
Since February 3, passenger vehicles had gone on indefinite strike to put pressure on the State government to bring down the price of auto fuels. They also blamed the high cost of fuel prices on the imposition of high Value Added Tax (VAT) by the State government.
The strike has caused hardship to the general public whose livelihood entirely depends on transportation. Among the most affected were daily wagers, students, examinees, traders, shopkeepers and employees.
There are fear that the increase of fuel prices will result in hike in prices of essential commodities and food items and affect the poor people.
