Left parties intensify protest against price rise

The Left parties today held a massive rally in the Capital against price rise – the biggest since the 1990s – and demanded immediate release of the buffer stock of foodgrain and a rollback on hiked fuel prices.

During the Zero Hour, CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury told the Rajya Sabha, while India was shining on the one hand, 80 per cent of the people were denied even Rs 20 per day. “Since it has affected the common man very badly, we would place five demands. The government should immediately release the 47.5 million tonnes of foodgrain lying in the godowns, put a ban on future trading and take stringent action against hoarders.”

Yechury also demanded a roll back of the customs duty on petroleum products and universalisation of the Public Distribution System.

CPI's D Raja echoed Yechury’s views and further criticised the government for slashing back food subsidy. “The government should act, otherwise the Left parties will intensify their agitation,” he said.

Earlier in the day, when the Left wanted to place their demands during Question Hour, Chairman Hamid Ansari told them they could do so only during the Zero Hour.