The price of the domestic LPG cylinder has been raised for the second time in two months by Rs 50. This only adds to people’s woes who are reeling under the rise in fuel prices. It is almost as if the incumbent government is watching the plight of the ‘aam aadmi’ with glee. We already have a statement made by the Goa CM’s wife that there is no need to be afraid (Bhivpachi Garaz Na). She subsequently clarified that people have to tolerate the rise in prices for some time since it is a crisis impacting the whole world because of the Ukraine war. This was also the catch line used by the CM during the height of the Covid wave when people were dying in droves. This highlights the crass attitude of our politicians who refuse to look at the plight of the common man and continue to live in ivory towers isolated from the ground reality. The argument is not about ad-hoc increases or reductions but to have a proper system or a formula that whenever international prices fluctuate, the local price of commodities should also have a price band and should be automatically set. This system will be a transparent one and have a fixed methodology so that no one can blame the authorities concerned for rigging prices.
