Congress protests outside Kejriwal's residence over price rise in capital

Delhi Congress staged a protest outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Sunday slamming the state government over skyrocekting prices of essential commodities.

Leading the protest, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken said 'thali-peet' (utensil-beating) demonstration was held to "awaken" Kejriwal from his “deep slumber,” as the Aam Aadmi Party leader seemed to be “oblivious” to the price rise of essential commodities around him.

Recalling Kejriwal’s claims of containing corruption during his first term in the government, Maken said it can now be assumed that corruption has gone up in Delhi as the prices have soared sky high to break all records.

“Onions were selling at prices ranging from Rs 80 to 100, and the AAP Government has not done anything to check the price rise, nor taken action against hoarders and speculators.

 “Other reasons for the price rise was that the Kejriwal government had increased Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential commodities, and also put entry tax on goods vehicles coming from outside the capital,” Maken was quoted as saying in a statement.

The DPCC chief added that “the Congress government had ruled Delhi for 15 years and whenever the price of a particular essential commodity went up, it took measures to make such commodities available to the people at reasonable prices.”

“The Congress Government also conducted periodic raids to check hoarding and give relief to the people,” Maken said, adding, “it was the stubborn attitude of Kejriwal that has resulted in the present price rise crisis, as he had refused to buy onions offered by NAFED at Rs 19 per kg.”

Maken also asked the government to conduct by-elections to 13 vacant MCD seats “without any further delay.”

“Kejriwal was not holding by-elections to the 13 MCD wards due to his failure to fulfill the promises made to the people, fearing that AAP will be inflicted a crushing defeat by the people, over their failed policies and promises,” he said.