The insurgent United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Sunday urged wholesalers and retailers of petroleum products, food grains and other essential commodities to sell these items at Rs. 5 less than the all-India rates.
The ULFA warned them against enforcing hiked prices of petroleum products fixed by the Centre in the State. It also warned that the ULFA would not be held responsible for any situation that might arise in the event of the traders ignoring its appeal.
In a statement e-mailed to a section of the media, self-styled lieutenant Anu Buragohain, member of the ULFA's central publicity unit, stated that the outfit had earlier issued an appeal on March 18, urging the traders to charge Rs. 5 less than the all-India rates. However, the ULFA noticed that this was ignored, Mr. Buragohain said.
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The outfit also assailed Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, accusing him of being indifferent to people's misery, which, it said, had been compounded by floods and price hikes.
Meanwhile, the State unit of the All-India Road Transport Workers' Federation has called for a 24-hour chakka bandh and a general strike from 6 a.m. on June 29 in protest against the Centre's decision to hike fuel prices.
It appealed to the operators of all private and public sector vehicles and the people to keep off the road on that day. The State unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions has extended full support to the Federation.
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Earlier on Saturday, separate protest rallies and demonstrations were organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Bharatiya Janata Party, the All Assam Students' Union, Athe Som Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and the Guwahati Division Insurance Employees Association demanding rollback of prices.
The Asom Gana Parishad will also stage a dharna in all district headquarters on Monday.