BJP leaders seek bank loan to buy "Atta"

Chandigarh, Dec 2 (UNI) BJP activists today sought bank loans to purchase "Atta" (wheat flour) to mark their protest at the steep hike in prices of essential commodities under the UPA regime.

Led by All India BJP Youth wing executive member Vineet Joshi, the party activists applied for a loan from a local branch of Bank of Baroda completing all the formalities and attaching the relevant documents including the IT returns for the last fiscal.

Since the usual protests like dharnas and marches have failed to affect the "apathetic" government, the BJP felt that it should be made to feel ashamed of its failure, Mr Joshi said.

''If the common citizens had to resort to seeking loans for everyday use commodities isn't it a matter of shame for the government?'' he asked.

He said he was told to apply for Atta loan in the category of personal loans.

''I wish people could apply for the loan under some special category due to the spiralling prices of Atta, Dal (pulses) and other necessity commodities. Seeking personal loans for these hits you further due to steep interest,'' Mr Joshi said.

Now, the BJP planned to demand the UPA government to direct banks to design specific loans for Atta, Dals and all the other essential commodities.

''If they can't help us by controlling prices, they should certainly make the Atta-Dal loans at least less taxing for us,'' he added.

Mr Joshi adding that the cost of Atta at Rs 17 per kg today was unprecedented.

The BJP youth wing has, on earlier occasions, launched protests like sending parcelled gifts of Dal and Rajmah kidney beans) to the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson.

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