New Delhi, Apr 15 : Left Party members today staged a street protest against the steep increase in the prices of essential commodities.

They joined hands with the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) in demonstrating their concerns over the price rise outside Parliament House.

Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said they have planned a week-long nation wide protests from April 16.

The UNPA charged the Government with having inadequately responded to the inflation and claimed that it's (government's) understanding of the cause of inflation was erroneous.

“The government needs to strengthen the public distribution system and control malpractices like hoarding. The forward trading on commodities by foreign participants, which is pushing the prices of the goods, should also be controlled,” Yechury said.

India's inflation rate surged to its highest level of 7.41 per cent last Friday since mid November 2004, which means, it has nearly doubled since December 2007. (ANI)