The Democratic Youth Federation of India and CPI (M) activists on Monday carried out a demonstration demanding State government’s intervention to control rising prices of food served at restaurants. They urged the government to open eateries and provide subsidised food as is done in Tamil Nadu.
The DYFI activists marched from Hampankatta Circle to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, where they held a public meeting. Addressing the protestors, DYFI district unit secretary Muneer Katipalla said increase in the price of essential commodities including milk and LPG gas had resulted in restaurants increasing prices of food items. On an average a labourer has to spend nearly 40 per cent of his income on hotel food, Mr. Katipalla said.
Claiming that there was no uniformity in the tariff of different city restaurants, he said a cup of tea at a hotel near the DC office cost Rs. 10, while another restaurant not even 100 metres away charged Rs. 14. There was no rationale behind increasing the price of food items frequently, he said.
CPI (M) councillor Dayanand Shetty said three Ministers from the region and also the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner N. Prakash have not bothered to take action to regulate prices of food items in restaurants.
