DMK to join Bharat bandh against Centre: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Sep 19:

, a key ally of the ruling UPA, announced its participation at the Sep 20

called by several non-UPA parties to protest Centre's decision on

price hike, allow FDI in multi-brand retail and limit subsidised cooking gas.

In a brief statement yesterday, DMK president M Karunanidhi asked his party members to extend "full co-operation" for conducting the protest in a "peaceful" and "successful manner".

Karunanidhi, who has already demanded rollback of the diesel price hike, also asked various wings of his party to participate in the bandh.

"People in the state are already reeling under the increase in transport, milk, electricity charges and price rise. The Centre, burdening the common man further, has announced increase in the diesel price, limiting subsidised cooking gas and allowing FDI in multi-brand retail. To protest these decisions,a nation-wide protest has been announced on Sep 20," he said.

Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the government, along with a number of other non-UPA parties including BJP, will hold coordinated agitational programmes on Sep 20 across the country to protest against these decisions of the Manmohan Singh government.

PTI