Left Parties Protest LPG Hike, Railway Cuts

Chennai: Leaders and members of several opposition parties, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, CPI (ML), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), organized a major protest in Chennai on Thursday evening.

The protest was held to condemn the recent increase in commercial LPG cylinder prices and the reported reduction in railway jobs.

Hundreds of party workers and supporters participated in the demonstration, raising slogans against the central government and expressing concern over the impact of these decisions on ordinary people.

Prominent political leaders who joined the protest included CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian, CPM state secretary P. Shanmugam, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan, and senior leaders from CPI (ML).

During the protest, party leaders strongly criticized the hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices, saying it would place a heavy financial burden on small businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and traders.

They argued that higher LPG costs would eventually affect the general public as businesses may increase prices for goods and services.

The leaders also voiced opposition to the alleged move to cut 10% of jobs in the railway sector.

According to them, reducing railway jobs would negatively impact employment opportunities for young people while increasing the workload and pressure on existing railway employees.

The protestors urged the Union government to immediately reverse the LPG price hike and withdraw any plans to reduce railway employment.

They stated that these measures were harmful to workers, small businesses, and the wider public, and called for policies that protect jobs and control essential costs.