Concern over rise in prices of essential commodities in Manipur

Students complain of unreasonable hike of all prices including city bus fares; Minister denies reports

Students organisations and civil groups have expressed concern over the soaring prices of essential commodites in Manipur reportedly taking undue advantage of the covid-19 pandemic. Student groups have been raiding several shops in Imphal to check the prices of items sold to the people. According to students, the shopkeepers are not maintaining any price list for items including the consumer goods. H. Roshan, general secretary of Manipur Students Federation said, “ We checked whether the shops prominently display the price list as per directives of the government. We advised the shop keepers to comply with the government orders”. He further said that people reeling under the pandemic will be hard hit by the whimsical price hike. He warned the traders against the gravy train in the backdrop of the pandemic. “This is the first step and we shall continue the drive”, he told the reporters. All Manipur Students Union has started its own drive against price hike. Ayub Khan, president of All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organisation said, “ When the traders hike the prices it is the daily wage earners who are hit hard. People are not happy that price lists are not displayed and the shop keepers get carte blanche to whimsically hike the prices of daily use items”. He further said that the Muslim students shall continue to monitor the prices of essential commodities.