New Delhi, July 29: A joint protest against price rise, organised by the Left Front, saw participation from the Opposition as well as allies of the government.
For the first time since the swearing-in of the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, the Left parties organised a joint protest on the issue.
Several supporters of the UPA, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), joined the demonstration. They urged the Centre to come up with concrete measures to control the rising prices.
The government has agreed for a “structured debate” on the issue in both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha will take up the matter on Wednesday and the Rajya Sabha will discuss it next week.
“The government is ready for a debate on price rise. It will be taken up tomorrow (Wednesday) immediately after Question Hour,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal told the Lok Sabha.
“The prices of essential commodities have been increasing, though inflation has consistently been in the negative for some weeks now. We share the concerns of the members and there will be a discussion,” he added.
Earlier, Left and SP MPs forced the adjournment of the House by trooping into the well demanding that the price rise issue be taken up for discussion.
They also wanted the Question Hour to be cancelled.
CPM leader Basudeb Acharia said the adjournment motion moved by his party on the issue of price rise of essential commodities should be taken up. Speaker Meira Kumar did not admit the adjournment motion and asked the members to give notice for discussion under Rule 193.
Dissatisfied with the Speaker’s reply, the party’s MPs trooped into the well of the House. SP members also voiced their dissent.
Earlier, the Left parties organised a joint protest in front of the main gate of Parliament against the Centre’s alleged inaction in controlling the spiralling prices of food grains and other essential commodities.
They were joined by leaders from the Biju Janata Dal, RJD, SP and the Telugu Desam Party.
While RJD leader Lalu Prasad joined the sit-in, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav raised the issue in the Lok Sabha along with the Left leaders.
The issue came up in the Rajya Sabha as well. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury and BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu demanded a discussion on the matter.
–Agencies