The Congress and other opposition parties called the nationwide protest, ‘Bharat Bandh’, against rising fuel prices on September 10. Compared to the ‘bandh’ called by the upper caste groups against SC/ST Act amendment on September 6, the recent protest was largely a success. Surprisingly, the Aam Admi Party refused to join the protest.
The ‘bandh’ marked the rising disappointments of the working class, and ‘peasants’ group over issues such as inflation, unemployment, crime, and corruption. The protest was called because the living conditions of people, except the elites, their political “managers”, and high ranking bureaucrats, have become extremely difficult today. As a result, there is a growing perception among the masses that the ruling party is anti-people and favours big capitalists, MNCs, and imperialist powers like US and Israel.
However, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has claimed that ‘the Congress-led Bharat Bandh has been a flop because the people “understand” that the price rise is beyond the government’s control’.
Interestingly, the fuel prices were much less during the UPA-II regime, even when crude oil was more expensive in the international market.
Just to give you an insight on how the fuel price is determined, see the following figures:
“Components of Petrol Price
- Sales VAT -17%
- Customs Duty – 4%
- Dealer Commission-2%
- Excise Duty -25%
- Fuel Component-52%”
It is very clear that through its ‘anti-people’ policies the government is plundering its people. Not only in terms of fuel prices, but in all daily consumer’s items, education, health services, employment, etc. On the other hand, it is serving a section of big capitalists like Ambani, Adani, Mehul Choksy, Nirav Modi, etc!
What are we to do? What is to be done?
There is no alternative than to show them the doors in the next elections. But, is Congress for the people? No way. Congress too has a major role in country’s present situation. It was started by Congress and is now being taken forwarded by RSS/BJP by serving super elites of the country, in lieu of super commission.
In such a situation, workers unity and struggle is the only path for the social, political, and economic changes. This is what our great thinker and revolutionary Bhagat Singh and his socialist party HSRA dreamt of.