PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress on Saturday staged a dramatic protest in Panaji with its members cooking puris and bhajjis (pakoras) over a wood fire to condemn the steep rise in prices of LPG cylinders.
Speaking to the media, Mahila Congress president Pratima Coutinho stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and their governments brought us women to the roads. An essential commodity such as the LPG cylinder has touched Rs 783 per unit. The government is forcing Goan women back into the kitchens to struggle for running their household.”
Coutinho said that coupled with a loss of employment, inflation and now rise in LPG cylinder cost, life itself has become unaffordable to Goans. “Are BJP leaders receiving free cylinders or have they turned blind to the plight of Goan women? Such a government has no right to remain in power,” she lashed out.
Mahila Congress members recalled how BJP, when it was in the Opposition, had made a huge hue and cry over the rise in petrol and LPG prices even as the prices of crude oil had soared. “The same leaders such as Smriti Irani are now silently enjoying their Goa vacations. We would like to parcel the food prepared over the wood fire and send it to CM Sawant and Irani,” Coutinho said.
It was pointed out that the budget has made all luxury items more affordable while failing to benefit the middle class and the poor people in any manner.
Coutinho urged the Goa government to subsidize petrol and LPG cylinder using the fund of Rs 300 crore received from the Central government for a celebration of the 60th year of Goa’s liberation.
