Summary:
New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) Left parties have called a nationwide protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and unemployment from May 25-31.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the Left parties directed their units across the country to coordinate this “united and concerted nationwide struggle” against price rise and unemployment.
"Unabated galloping price rise is imposing unprecedented burdens on the people.
Crores are suffering and are pushed into deeper poverty with growing hunger pangs.
Coming on top of unprecedented and growing levels of unemployment, this is compounding people’s miseries," the statement said.
The Left parties said that over the last year the prices of petroleum products have increased by 70 per cent, vegetables by 20 per cent, cooking oil by 23 per cent and cereals by 8 per cent.
"Wheat, the staple diet of crores of Indians, is seeing a price rise of over 14 per cent, making it unaffordable.
Wheat procurement has declined.
Central government has procured less than half of last year.
This year procurement will not cross 20 metric tonnes as against the target of 44.4 metric tonnes.
"The continuous hike in prices of petroleum products and cooking gas cylinders and the acute shortage of wheat is propelling this overall inflation.