What type of struggles did the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) lead in 1967 against the high prices of commodities?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The economic turmoil in 1967 led to escalating prices, triggering public discontent. Citizens voiced their concerns through protests against elevated costs of essential goods, food scarcity, rising unemployment, and the overall economic state of the nation. This period also saw frequent occurrences of bandhs (strikes) and hartals (shutdowns) across the country. The government regarded these protests as issues of law and order rather than reflections of people's grievances, inadvertently intensifying public resentment and magnifying widespread unrest.
Communist and socialist parties initiated movements to address socioeconomic inequality. A faction of communists, distinct from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), established the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). This new party led armed agrarian uprisings and orchestrated farmer protests. Additionally, this phase was marred by some of the most severe Hindu-Muslim conflicts since India's independence.