In a bold display of dissent against skyrocketing prices, the Madhya Pradesh unit of the All India Mahila Congress organized a unique ‘Kitchen Parliament’ protest in Bhopal on February 17. Hundreds of women activists gathered outside the state party headquarters, transforming the area into a symbolic kitchen to highlight the daily struggles faced by households amid relentless inflation.
Led by state president Reena Borasi, the protesters set up mock kitchens on the ground, complete with empty Ujjwala gas cylinders and placards displaying the soaring costs of vegetables, edible oils, and other essentials. The women sat around these symbolic setups, chanting slogans and holding up boards that screamed the inflated prices, painting a vivid picture of the crisis gripping kitchens across the nation.
Reena Borasi addressed the crowd with fiery rhetoric, declaring that the rising costs have shattered the delicate balance of every home’s budget. ‘Gas cylinders, cooking oils, and vegetables are now beyond the reach of ordinary families,’ she said. ‘The government’s Ujjwala scheme cylinders have become mere showpieces in many homes, while empty pots in kitchens demand answers from those in power.’
She questioned how women, the backbone of family nutrition, could manage to feed their loved ones under such duress. Borasi demanded immediate price cuts on LPG cylinders, strict controls on essential commodities, and concrete relief measures for the common man. The protest underscored a harsh reality: while the national budget is being crafted in Delhi, household budgets are crumbling under inflation’s weight.
The Mahila Congress issued a stern warning to the ruling dispensation. If decisive action isn’t taken to curb inflation, the party vows to expand the ‘Kitchen Parliament’ campaign across every corner of Madhya Pradesh, mobilizing women to amplify their voices against economic hardship. This innovative protest has sparked conversations on social media and among political circles, signaling a growing wave of public discontent.