CPI(M) protests price rise of essential commodities

Chennai, Feb 5 (UNI) Over 35,000 CPI(M) cadres, including 11,500 women, were today arrested when they staged a picketing agitation in various parts of Tamil Nadu in protest against the Union and State Governments for not controlling the rising prices of essential commodities.

Reports received at the police headquarters here said the state-wide agitation was held in over 300 centres in all districts of the State.

CPI(M) State Secretary N Varadharajan led the agitation in Coimbatore.

In Chennai, over 2,000 CPI(M) workers were arrested for staging agitation in 12 places.

The agitators urged the Centre and the State to enforce a ban on online trading to control the rising prices, procure food items at fair price and supply them in fair price shops, and strengthen the Public Distribution System.

All the arrested were released later.

UNI GV GD SY RN1603