New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and the Left Saturday launched a weeklong nationwide protests against soaring food prices, warning the government of an “explosive” situation. “An explosive situation will emerge if (food) prices are not controlled,” Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat told a meeting organised by the UNPA and the Left here.

The UNPA and Left leaders are to march to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s office after the meeting.

The UNPA includes the Samajwadi Party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who heads the UNPA, shared the platform with Prakash Karat, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala.