Kolkata, March 8 Activists from the TMC (Trinamool Congress) organized a march here on Sunday to protest against the increase in LPG prices, and banged utensils to symbolically highlight the difficulties faced by households.
The procession began at Subodh Mullick Square in central Kolkata, with state ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya and Shashi Panja, party MP Mala Roy, and other women leaders and councillors participating in the protest.
The demonstrators wore black clothes and banged utensils during the march to highlight what they described as the increasing burden on women who manage household kitchens.
The price of domestic cooking gas was increased on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in less than a year, amid the West Asia crisis.
TMC leaders alleged that the increase in LPG prices and other essential commodities has made it increasingly difficult for families to manage daily expenses.
"Kitchens are largely managed by women. On the day before International Women's Day, the price of cooking gas has been increased to nearly Rs 1,000 per cylinder. How will families cook and feed their members?" Panja said, adding that the utensils being carried by the protesters symbolize the "inability of households to cook food due to rising LPG prices".
The demonstrators also questioned how families would manage cooking expenses when the cost of LPG cylinders continues to rise.
The protest will continue until the price hike is reversed, they said.