'US guided' UPA policy responsible for price rise: CPI(M)

CPI(M) today alleged that the economic policy adopted by the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre is responsible for spiralling prices of essential commodities in the country.

Government measures including cut in farm subsidy, lack of budgetary provisions for farming and allowing multi-national companies to takeover the profit making sectors are primary causes of price hike, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said here.

Terming the policy as "US-guided", Karat alleged that due to the faulty economic policy, agriculture in the country is in ruins and there is no guarantee on food security.

"It has not only broken the backbone of the poor but even affected the lower and upper middle class people," he said.

Fighting against the 'man-made' price hike should be the first priority of every citizen, Karat said after inaugurating a three-day workshop on poverty at the Barabati Stadium here.

CPI(M) has launched a country-wide protest against the economic policies of the UPA government and the price hike, he said urging the people to join it.