Indian opposition protest march

The leader of India's main opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, has led a protest march in Delhi to demand that the recent cut in food subsidies be withdrawn.

Mrs Gandhi, who led senior members and parliamentarians of her party to the Prime Minister's official residence, warned the government of further protests if it did not reverse what she called its anti-people decision. Mrs Gandhi said she had discussed the issue with the Prime Minister earlier this morning but got no firm assurance from him. The coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee cut subsidies on food and fertilisers last month, saying the move would help to reduce the country's budget deficit.

But opposition parties say the move, which led to a sudden surge in the price of essential food items, affects millions of poor people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service