BJP protests against rising prices in Kolkata - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest against rising prices of essential commodities here on Wednesday. Hundreds of slogan-shouting activists marched through the streets of Kolkata. The protestors also burnt the effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Protest march was led by state BJP unit chief Rahul Sinha. Sinha demanded resignation of Bhattacharjee blaming him for hike in electricity charges. "We have staged this demonstration against rising prices, increase in per unit charges of electricity, and also to demand the resignation of chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. We are staging this protest in 1131 parts of the state," Sinha said. India 's food price index rose 18.65 percent in the 12 months to December 12, from 19.95 a week earlier. Food prices are jumping because of shortages after crops were hit by the weakest monsoon rains in 37 years and then floods in parts of the country.