Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Thousands Protest High Food Prices in India

   VOA News  February 23, 2011
   Demonstrators shout slogans as they hold steel plates during a protest
   against food prices in New Delhi.

Photo: REUTERS

   Demonstrators shout slogans as they hold steel plates during a protest
   against food prices in New Delhi, Feb. 23, 2011.

   Tens  of  thousands  of  people  have  gathered  in India's capital to
   protest surging food prices.

   Demonstrators  marched  through  the  center  of  New Delhi Wednesday,
   heading towards the Indian parliament building as they chanted slogans
   against  high food costs. Protesters included members of several trade
   unions, including one linked to India's ruling party.
   India has been struggling with rising food inflation, which hit nearly
   20  percent  late  last  year. The country's poor have been especially
   affected.

   Prime  Minister  Manmohan  Singh  has  said  inflation poses a serious
   threat  to  the India's economic growth. He has called for an increase
   in food production.
   Meanwhile,  India's  Agriculture  Minister Sharad Pawar said Wednesday
   the  government  should give serious thought to allowing the export of
   limited  quantities  of  wheat  and rice because the country has ample
   stocks.
   The move could curb rising global food prices.
   India  banned  wheat  exports  in 2007 and non-basmati rice exports in
   2008  to  ensure  sufficient  domestic  supplies.  The  country is the
   world's second largest producer of the food grains.
   In addition to high food prices, the government is under pressure from
   several corruption scandals.
   Wednesday's  protests  in  New  Delhi  came a day after Prime Minister
   Singh   gave   in   to   calls   for  a  parliamentary  probe  into  a
   multi-billion-dollar  telecommunications scandal involving the sale of
   mobile phone licenses.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.