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Markets and shopping centres down shutters, says BJP

Special Correspondent

Government steps to contain inflation have failed: Javadekar

Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

SEEKING ACTION: BJP activists stage a protest against rise in prices of essential commodities, in Patna on Thursday. The party had called for a nation-wide strike on the day to protest the “failure” of the UPA government to control inflation. —

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that its call for a nationwide strike on Friday in protest against price rise was a success, although agency reports from various centres reported that life largely remained unaffected.

Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar said here that 20,000 markets and shopping centres downed shutters in various towns and 2,000 party workers were arrested for picketing, almost 600 from Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Javadekar criticised the government for trying to control inflation by merely restraining the demand-side through measures announced by the Reserve Bank of India. With the wholesale price index showing a 7.57 per cent inflation for the week ended April 19, marginally higher than 7.33 per cent for the preceding week, it was a clear indication that the government’s steps had failed, he said.

— Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Sharp protest: Delhi Pradesh BJP activists led by party unit president Harish Vardhan demonstrating against price rise on Vikas Marg in New Delhi on Friday.

Mehangai Roko Ya Gaddi Chodo (Check price rise or quit government) was the slogan raised by the BJP. During the National Democratic Alliance regime, the granaries were full and there was no need to import wheat or edible oils. But the Manmohan Singh government was forced to import wheat and it was now importing edible oils worth Rs.50,000 crore, Mr. Javadekar said.

He blamed hoarding and black marketing, and high prices of cement, steel, essential food items and fuel for the rising inflation.

“Why did not the government tackle the situation urgently? Why no meeting of Chief Ministers was called or why was the Opposition not taken into confidence and measures to tackle inflation discussed with it, he asked.

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