Chhattisgarh Congress stages ‘Chini Satyagraha’ over rising sugar prices

Chhattisgarh Congress staged a statewide ‘Chini Satyagraha’ against rising sugar prices, blaming BJP governments for inflation. The party claimed sugar shortages at PDS shops were burdening families and demanded immediate restoration of supplies, warning of intensified protests if unresolved

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Congress on Friday staged a statewide ‘Chini Satyagraha’ protest against rising sugar prices and alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state have failed to control inflation. The protest was held at all district headquarters. In Raipur, the party’s district unit staged a demonstration at Rajiv Chowk, said Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the Congress state communication wing.

State Congress president Deepak Baij said that the Centre’s “anti-people policies” and high taxation were responsible for rising prices, which had upset household budgets and made life difficult for the middle class.

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In a statement, Baij said the Congress is raising the people’s voice through the ‘Chini Satyagraha’. Sugar was not available at ration shops under the Public Distribution System (PDS), and poor and middle-class families were being forced to purchase sugar at Rs 60-70 per kg in the open market for festivals and daily consumption, he claimed. “In Bastar and Surguja, chana (gram) and jaggery have also not been available for months,” the Congress leader further said, adding that hoarders were benefiting from the situation.

The Congress demanded immediate restoration of sugar supplies at all PDS shops and warned of an intensified agitation from the streets to the state Assembly if the issue was not resolved. Past Congress governments had ensured timely availability of sugar, salt, rice, gram and jaggery at ration shops, Baij said.