CPI holds agitation in Punjab against price hike

Chandigarh, Apr 17 (UNI)In response to a nation-wide call by the Communist Party of India to protest against the rising price of essential commodities and government's failure to implement the Common Minimum Programme, the party's Punjab unit today held rallies and marches across the state to protest .

The CPI activists in the Union Territory, joined by their comrades from Rupnagar, Mohali and Patiala, shouted slogans demanding immediate steps by the Centre to reduce the prices of essential commodities.

Local leaders addressed hundreds of CPI activists who attended the rallies at Moga, Firozepur, Faridkot, Muktsar and Barnala districts.

In Jalandhar, the rally was also attended by activists from Doaba.

Moga rally was held in the premises of Punjab Roadways bus stand and was addressed among others, by the District Secretary of CPI including Comrade Randhir Gill, Darshan Singh Misri Wala, Pawanpreet Singh, Ujaggar Singh Barnala and Harlabh Singh, Muktsar.

The activists also took out protest marches in many places.

They raised anti-government slogans for it's ''complete failure'' in implementation of the Common Minimun Programme and failure to check rise in prices of essential commodities.

The protesters also sat at dharna and blocked road traffic for about one hour at Moga.

Senior CPI leader Jagroop Singh told newspersons that it was most unfortunate that the present UPA government which was supported by Left parties has completely failed to implement the Common Minimum Programme and also ruined the economy by its failure to check price rise and also the inflation was at a record-high of 7.41 per cent.

Jagroop Singh was also critical of the performance of SAD-BJP alliance government as it has completely failed to check all sorts of criminal activities in the state.

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