Oppn slams govt on price rise takes a dig at BJP, wondering where the achhe din (good days) have gone

Thursday, 10/07/2014

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New Delhi: Government on Wednesday came under scathing attack from the opposition on the issue of price rise with members taking a dig at BJP, wondering where the achhe din (good days), promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have gone.

In a discussion on price rise, they expressed concern over rising prices of essential commodities and asked the government to act against hoarders to contain inflation.

Initiating a discussion in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh also demanded a complete ban on onion export to control its soaring prices.

The discussion under a rule that does not entail voting was taken up after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the opposition notices on an adjournment motion on the issue, and said she was ready to have a general discussion.

He asked ‘where is the achhe din’ promised by the BJP during election campaign and slammed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that food prices are under control and there is no need to panic.

Singh said that the farmers who produce vegetables, including potatoes, onion and tomatoes were selling their produce at low price and hoarders and middlemen were responsible for shooting up of prices such essential commodities.

“There has been a 250 per cent increase in the prices of onion, tomatoes and potatoes. Have you taken any step against middlemen? ...Tackle hoarding to control prices in the short run. I hope the government will take action against hoarders,” he said.

BJP hit back, with its member Anurag Thakur saying the price rise being witnessed currently was a result of policies of the previous Congress-led government.

He said that prices of essential commodities were being kept under check by the Narendra Modi government in total contrast to Manmohan Singh government when prices of food items rose manifold.

CPI(M) member P Karunakaran, interestingly, criticised Congress for raising the issue of price rise, saying its government did not take any ‘concrete’ action to control inflation during its 10-year rule.

“Why did not you take steps in 10 years. You were not ready to take any concrete step to control price rise. You were not ready to listen,” he told Congress members who were attacking the Narendra Modi government over the issue.

The MP from Kerala reminded the government that it had come to power raising the issue of price rise, and said that Modi should show sincerity in fulfilling election promises and look after the interests of the poor.

He referred to 6.5 per cent recent hike in freight rates, saying such steps have a cascading effect and finally lead to increase in the prices of essential commodities.

“I want to know whether you have political will to reduce excise duty, reduce VAT and change tax structure as promised during the last Lok Sabha elections,” he said, a day ahead of the presentation of the General Budget.