New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) In an attempt to mount pressure on the government over rising prices, Left leader Sitaram Yechury Monday met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and warned that the communists along with other parties would launch a stir on the issue. Yechury, politburo member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), is also believed to have discussed the Left’s stand on the contentious Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement with Gandhi during the meeting that took place in the latter’s residence here.

The meeting comes a day after the four Left parties and the third grouping, the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), announced week-long nationwide protests from April 16 against the price rise.

The parties jointly demanded the government ban futures trading in 25 agriculture commodities, strengthen the public distribution system, cut customs and excise duties on fuel and take stringent action against those hoarding essential commodities.

The Left parties that extend outside support to the Congress-led government are also against the Indo-US nuclear deal as they feel it would go against India’s independent foreign policy and indigenous nuclear programme.