Kolkata, 08 March (H.S.): Women leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday staged a protest in Kolkata against the recent hike in domestic LPG prices, beating kitchen utensils and wearing black attire as a mark of protest.

The demonstration was first held at Subhash Mallick Square in central Kolkata under the leadership of state ministers Shashi Panja and Chandrima Bhattacharya. TMC MP Mala Roy, MLA Nayana Bandyopadhyay, and several party leaders and workers were also present.

Later, the protesters moved to the Dharmatala Metro Channel, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been staging a sit-in demonstration since Friday against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Around 10.30 am, Banerjee also arrived at the protest site as party leaders continued their demonstration against the ₹60 increase in LPG prices, beating pots and pans to symbolically express their opposition.

TMC leaders said the sudden increase in cooking gas prices had placed an additional burden on common people, especially amid global uncertainties linked to the conflict in West Asia.

Banerjee’s sit-in protest at Dharmatala entered its third day on Sunday, with the chief minister continuing her agitation against the SIR exercise in the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey