Left parties walk out over price rise

Alleging that the price rise has become "unbearable and going on unabated", the Left parties on Tuesday staged walkouts in both Houses of Parliament.

Alleging that the price rise has become "unbearable and going on unabated", the Left parties on Tuesday staged walkouts in both Houses of Parliament.

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"His surgery may be successful, but the patient is dying," CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechuri said in the Rajya Sabha attacking Finance Minister P Chidambaram of "wrong" diagnosis and prescription.

In the Lok Sabha, the Left parties sought to take the sheen out of the Union Budget by alleging that the prices have risen more after the Budget." It is going on unabated and unbearable", CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta said.

"Budget and the economic reforms are responsible for the speculative economy showing its teeth", he said. Echoing similar sentiments in the Rajya Sabha, Yechury said the Finance Minister's "diagnosis" of the problem is wrong and therefore prescription is also wrong.

Noting that the inflation was because of speculation in forward and futures trading, Yechury sought immediate ban in forward and future trading in 24 commodities to stop the price rise.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, Rupchand Pal (CPI-M) also wanted the Public Distribution System to be strengthened.

Pal pointed out that in Left-rule Kerala there was a reduction in supply of foodgrains by 82 per cent, while in West Bengal it was to the tune of 50 per cent.

BJP members sought to embarrass the Left by seeking to know why they are only protesting and not withdrawing support to the Congress-led coalition.