By IANS,
Singur (West Bengal) : Blaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for failing to control food inflation, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Sunday said the Left parties will organise a big rally in Delhi during the budget session of parliament seeking a curb on rising prices.
“We cannot force the UPA government to initiate proper steps for curbing price rise by organising stray demonstrations. We will organise a big rally in Delhi during the budget session of parliament,” said Bhattacharjee at a rally in this rural belt of Hooghly district.
Bhattacharjee said last month, union Finance Minister Praanb Mukherjee had given him an assurance that prices of food grains and other essential commodities would come under control during winter.
“But in reality, just the opposite has happened. He has dispatched me a letter expressing concern over soaring prices of essentials. He wants me to take immediate steps,” Bhattacharjee said referring to a missive sent by Mukherjee to the chief ministers.
“I am asking him to explain what he has done to stabilise prices of essential commodities?” he said.
The chief minister said he had urged the central government to fix prices of 14 essential commodities to give relief to the people.
“The state governments do not have the power to fix price of essential commodities. The power is with the centre, but it did not do so.”
“I had even requested the centre to provide subsidy so that sugar, flour and some other essential items could be distributed at concessional rates. The finance minister simply turned down our request saying it is not possible for him to give subsidy for ration system. They can provide subsidy to industrialists but the same can not be given to the common people. Such is the character of the UPA,” he added.