Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly, Oommen Chandy has alleged in the House that the five-day sit-in launched by CPM in front of Central Government offices against the UPA Government’s policies was causing hardship to common people.

“Agitation against price rise of essential commodities has actually become a stir against people of the state. Protestors were not allowing anybody to go inside Post Offices. In many places, roads have been blocked causing problems to people,” he said taking up the issue as a submission.

Police personnel posted near the venue of agitations were helping the protesters instead of common people who came to Central Government offices for various purposes, he said. Replying to the submission, State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said instructions have been given to police to see that office work was not disrupted by protesters.

However, Balakrishnan justified the agitation and said the stir has become a ’people’s movement’ and was part of nationwide agitation planned by the party. Hundreds of CPI-M activists yesterday laid siege to Central Government offices in different parts of the state demanding “correction” of UPA government’s economic policies which they held responsible for skyrocketing prices of foodgrains in the country.