BJP to launch nation-wide agitation against price rise

New Delhi, Aug 8

Charging the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with having "failed" to keep its promise to bring down the prices of essential commodities in 100 days, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it would launch a nation-wide agitation against its "inability" to control sky-rocketting prices.

The BJP will organise protest marches and sit-ins in all districts Aug 17 - the day Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is slated to meet state chief ministers to discuss steps to be taken to tackle price rise and hoarding of food commodities.

"The UPA government has been unsuccessful in controlling the price rise. The BJP will hold an agitation from the parliament to the streets," the BJP said in a statement here.

It said the UPA had promised the people during election time that it would bring down the prices of essential commodities in 100 days, but had failed to do so.

"The common man has suffered most in the last 100 days due to the price rise. The prices of essential commodities including pulses, sugar and vegetables are increasing. But the government continues to remain a mute spectator," it said.

"The BJP will hold demonstrations and sit-ins all districts to protest the government's inability in controlling price rise," the statement said.