Date:20/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/20/stories/2006072016690600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Communist parties protest against price rise

Special Correspondent

Private traders are jacking up prices, alleges Varadarajan

RED PROTEST: Cadres of the CPI and the CPI(M) staging a demonstration against the increase in price of essential commodities in Chennai on Wednesday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: State units of the Communist Party of India and CPI (Marxist) on Wednesday organised a demonstration in front of the Park Town post office here to demand action by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre to arrest rising prices of essential commodities.

N. Varadarajan, CPI(M) State secretary, and A.M. Gopu, member of the national council of the CPI, led the agitations. They urged the Centre and State Governments to strengthen the Public Distribution System and take action against those who hoarded essential commodities. They criticised the Government for hiking prices of petrol and diesel.

Mr. Varadarajan said private traders were "jacking up" prices of essential commodities and the Central and State Governments should act against them.

Welcoming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government's move to provide rice at Rs. 2 a kg through the PDS, the CPI(M) leader said monitoring committees should be set up to ensure proper distribution.