AASU Intensifies Protests Against Rising Commodity Prices in Assam

Protests Across Assam

Guwahati/Jorhat/Bijni/Nalbari, Sep 3: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) escalated its protests on Thursday against the soaring prices of essential goods, conducting symbolic funeral processions for the state’s Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department throughout Assam.

In Guwahati, numerous AASU members, brandishing placards and flags, marched from Swahid Nyas at Uzan Bazar, urging the government to take immediate action to lower food prices and other essential items.

AASU leader Utpal Sarma explained that the funeral procession symbolized the perceived ineffectiveness of the department in addressing consumer issues.

“The Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Department appears oblivious to the situation regarding food and distribution. Today, we have declared the department as ineffective and conducted a funeral procession,” Sarma stated.

He cautioned Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai to take necessary actions to resolve the issue.

“If he has been entrusted with this responsibility, he must fulfill it and serve the public. Otherwise, he should be prepared to face public backlash,” Sarma warned.

Sarma accused the government of allowing essential commodity prices to rise post-elections, failing to provide relief to citizens grappling with the increasing cost of living.

“While the people of Assam are facing floods and millions are affected, the government is not providing relief but instead allowing prices to escalate. Prices remain stable during elections but surge immediately afterward,” he claimed.

He mentioned that protests were held in various districts on Thursday and warned that the demonstrations would persist until prices were controlled.

Similar protests were reported in multiple regions of the state. In Bijni, the Bijni Regional Students’ Union conducted a symbolic funeral procession from the local AASU office.

The procession traversed the town, concluding at the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department office, where protesters placed a symbolic bier and chanted slogans against the state government.

A protester noted that the students’ body had previously protested against price hikes on August 27 but claimed no substantial action had been taken since.

“Regional students’ unions have organized protests statewide. Through this movement, we aim to convey to the government that if prices are not reduced, our protests will continue,” the protester stated.

In Jorhat, demonstrators burned an effigy of the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister outside the District Commissioner’s office, accusing the government of neglecting the rising prices of essential goods.

The AASU's Jorhat district general secretary expressed that the increasing costs of essential items, medicines, and fuel were becoming a heavy burden for average households.

“We want to clearly warn the BJP government to take measures to lower prices. Ordinary citizens are struggling with the rising costs of essential goods, medicines, and fuel,” he emphasized.

A similar demonstration took place in Nalbari, where members of the Regional Students’ Union, including Nalbari unit vice-president Bhabajit Bezbaruah and Regional Students’ Union president Bishal Bikram Choudhury, participated.

Bezbaruah stated that the protests would intensify if the government did not take action.

“The Chief Minister has frequently discussed various schemes, yet prices keep rising and people are suffering. If prices are not lowered, our protests will escalate,” he warned.

This marks the second statewide protest by the student organization regarding this issue in recent weeks. On August 27, AASU had organized protests across Assam, accusing the government of failing to shield households from the escalating cost of living.