Left-UNPA joint protest against price rise from April 16

The Left parties will join hands with the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) in a week-long country wide protest against the price rise from April 16.

Speaking with the reporters on Sunday Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo member, Sitaram Yechury, said that the joint battle would be limited to the price rise only. Both parties said that the Government's understanding of the cause of inflation was erroneous and the measures taken to check it are inadequate.

The two parties demanded universalisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and a ban on futures trading in 25 agricultural commodities as proposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, while also seeking stringent action against hoarders.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said, “I have asked my party units across the country to picket Central Government offices on April 17 and 18 and launch a de-hoarding campaign.” He further warned that the UPA would have to pay a heavy political price because of the rising prices.

Voicing similar sentiments Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh said that the GDP growth has only effected a handful of people and that the UPA Government has done nothing substantive for the common man.

In the same vein, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Yerran Naidu also added, "The UPA came to power on aam aadmi slogan but it has betrayed the common man."

The Left parties and the UNPA have also planned separate protests against spiraling prices.

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