It seems the Independence Day celebrations have provided a new domain of freedom to prices of essential items, apparently embarrassing the party in power. The BJP, a fierce critic of the unprecedented price rise during the Congress rule, had promised to maintain the prices of the essential commodities.

Despite the increase in VAT, they promised the people of Assam that markets would be under strict control. The picture seemed different when I entered the Azara bazar. To my utter surprise, the prices of vegetables, poultry and fresh fish had skyrocketed in the past 15 days. Mohammad Ismail, a vegetable vendor, however, said the high prices of vegetables at this time of the year was nothing new.

Cauvery Barkakati, the deputy commissioner of Hojai district, said she had been examining this phenomenon from market to market in her district in accordance with the directive received from chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to monitor prices.

If we go by the views of Ismail, how do we justify the rise in prices of rice, pulses, mustard oil and for that matter even cement? The situation reminds me of Naseeruddin Shah's statement in the film A Wednesday!, "Hame ghar chalana hai saab (We have to run our families, sir)."

With the BJP-led government completing 100 days in office and with ministers waiting in queue to submit their report cards to the people like schoolchildren trying to draw the attention of their teacher, a volley of questions is certainly around the corner. We agree that 100 days is no time to make a significant mark, nor can it be a genuine assessment of the government's performance. The chief minister has claimed that in the 100 days, his government has come nearer to the people. Though the euphoria of "Congress- mukt Assam" seems to be almost over, somewhere down the line it is still marginally felt across the state. The 100 days could be a point of drawing the BJP's attention towards the fulfilment of their obligations and promises to the people.

The unprecedented price rise may be attributed to various reasons. There has always been a macro-explanation that globalisation has reshaped and repositioned the State in such a way that it is no longer in a position to maintain its control over the market. The market has turned out to be such a robust institution that even the State has become subordinate to it.

The BJP leadership and the government have to be commended for the maturity demonstrated in trying not to politicise the communal issue. But at the same time the template the BJP had successfully built up prior to the Assembly elections, highlighting the very question of the Assamese identity seems to be gradually disintegrating.

No doubt the ministers will reel out statistics like receiving crude oil royalty, an exclusive tea park in Guwahati, dredging of the Brahmaputra (with funding from World Bank) or the proposed Chief Minister's Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana.

The government has also received Rs 200 crore sanctioned for Diphu Medical College. But the people and the youth in particular are still expecting something on the job front. There should also be focus on the alarming issue of unprecedented floods this year. Is it not time that we have a national policy and perspective on flood, erosion and other natural calamities that threaten the region every year?

♦ The writer is dean (academic), Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati