CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has threatened to intensify agitation on the price rise if the UPA government doesn't take effective measures to curb inflation. Speaking at a rally organised by the Samajwadi Party-led United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), Karat demanded that the government should ban future trading in 25 agricultural commodities as proposed by the Parliamentary standing committee.The Left parties had joined the convention in its bid to gather third alternative forces to mainly oppose the BJP. However, Karat and other leaders didn't spare the Congress too. Coming down heavily on the Congress for not doing enough to curb price rise, Karat said, "After April 23, we will look for other means to protest against the government's handling of the price situation." He also demanded that the UPA government should immediately restore the cut in foodgrain allocations in the fair price shops in West Bengal and Kerala. "In Kerala, there is a rice crisis. They have cut down the above poverty line (APL) quota. I was in Kerala. I led an all-party delegation to the prime minister on this issue where even the state Congress joined us."Apart from Karat, CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechuri, SP's Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh, CPI's A B Bardhan and other were present in the meet. Later, many leaders courted arrest in protest against the government's failure to check inflation.
