Bhopal witnessed a powerful symbolic protest on February 17 as women from the Congress party’s women’s wing staged a ‘Rasooi Sansad’ or Kitchen Parliament to slam the government’s failure in controlling inflation. The event, held in front of the provincial office, drew sharp attention to how escalating costs of daily necessities are squeezing the life out of middle-class families.
Under the leadership of Reena Borasi, the state Mahila Congress chief, activists created an on-ground replica of a typical Indian kitchen plagued by high prices. Empty Ujjwala LPG cylinders lay prominently displayed, surrounded by women holding placards with price tags of skyrocketing veggies and oils. Their chants echoed demands for affordability in everyday life.
Borasi took center stage, lamenting that inflation has turned family kitchens into battlegrounds. ‘The budget in Parliament might be balanced, but homes are in chaos,’ she asserted. She highlighted how Ujjwala cylinders, once a beacon of hope for poor households, now gather dust unused due to refill costs, forcing many back to traditional wood-fired chulhas.
The protest leader called for urgent government intervention: slash LPG prices now, cap rates on food items, and roll out real support for struggling families. Women, she emphasized, are at the forefront of this crisis, juggling impossible finances to put food on the table.
As the demonstration wrapped up, Mahila Congress leaders promised escalation. Without prompt action on price controls, similar Kitchen Parliaments will dot the state, rallying women voters and pressuring authorities. This grassroots movement reflects broader anxieties over economic policies, potentially reshaping political narratives ahead of future elections.