The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today expressed concern over the hike in the prices of essential commodities.
Addressing the media after a meeting of the CLP, leader of the opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic the poor have had to deal with a loss of livelihood as well as a sharp rise in the price of essential commodities.
“I don’t see any measure or any effort from the side of the government to take cognizance of this concern. The government’s job is to regulate the market,” Dr Sangma said.
He also said that Meghalaya, despite hosting several cement factories, the price of the building material is exorbitantly expensive in the state and is cheaper elsewhere.
Stating that the government has failed on all fronts, the ex-Chief Minister said that it is “lacking commitment and responsibility to defend the interest of the state, especially in the border with Assam.”
“I have never seen a government in the past who have responded to such situation,” Dr Sangma added, while stating that the current administration is taking the people for a ride.
Referring to yesterday’s cabinet decision to take out a loan to revamp government-owned property Khyndailad, the heart of Shillong, Dr Sangma said that such a move would saddle future governments and generations of the state’s citizenry with large debts.
“This is the continuity of responsibility. They (the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance) don’t know this even after being in power for three years,” Dr Sangma said.
He also dismissed the claim of ministers that the present government has only inherited problems caused during the Congress’ past tenures. Such comments are irresponsible, Dr Sangma opined, were only from “half-educated people.”
