JVM(D) to launch month-long agitation against price hike

Ranchi, Mar 16 (UNI) Accusing the Centre of being responsible for a price hike of essential commodities, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic) president Babulal Marandi today said his party would launch a month-long agitation from April 2 in protest.

''The party activists wold burn effigies and observe black days during the multi-phase agitation which would end on April 30,'' Mr Marandi told reporters here.

Mr Marandi said about half of the state's population belonged to the Below Poverty Line class but no one cared for them.

''The price of essential commodities has gone up and the government is yet to take measurable steps,'' Mr Marandi said.

Besides other programmes, a dharna would also be staged in all the block headquarters from April 21-30 during the last phase of the agitation, the JVM(D) president said.

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