MARGAO: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as part of its nationwide agitation against the price rise, began its signature campaign in South Goa on Monday.

"We have decided to collect 3 lakh signatures in Goa. The BJP has launched this agitation at an all India level and we intend to present these signatures to the President requesting her to direct the Union government to reduce the prices," Mr Narendra Sawaikar, BJP general secretary told media.

Accusing the government of doing nothing to halt this price rise, he said, "In our opinion the price rise is a scam," arguing that the "Congress government which came to power to help the aam admi has failed to deliver to the aam admi."

Also present were Ms Kamlini Paiginkar, state vice president, Ms Krishna Walke, S Goa women’s chief, Mr Rupesh Mahatme and other block members.

The BJP has demanded with the President that a joint parliamentary committee be constituted to enquire into the scams in futures trading and the export-import of commodities like sugar, rice, wheat, pulses, etc.

It also wants all ration card holders including APL card holders to be provided adequate quantity of wheat, rice, sugar, pulses and edible oil at reasonable rates through PDS, stop future trading of foodgrain immediately, adequate foodgrain stock to be made available in retail markets to control price rise and food security to common man be guaranteed and buffer stocks of foodgrains to be created.