Members of the Welfare Party of India protested in front of District Collectorate in Coimbatore against raising the price of sugar sold through ration shops to Rs 25 a kg from Rs 13.50.

The protesters, who had threatened to meet District Collector TN Hariharan and return their ration cards as a mark protest against the price hike, were stopped and arrested by the strong police force.

Party district secretary KS Abdul Rahman alleged that the Central Government was planning to close down ration shops by increasing prices. “The Central Government is reducing subsidies of various products and trying to increase prices. The State Government was doing nothing against this and working hand in glove with the Centre,” he said. Rahman also felt that the subsidy cut was owing to pressure from the World Bank.