He also accused the government of not fulfilling the mandate of the 2004 elections to repeal the “anti-farmer, anti-poor policies of the previous NDA regime.”

He also accused the government of not fulfilling the mandate of the 2004 elections to repeal the “anti-farmer, anti-poor policies of the previous NDA regime.”

“This price rise is the direct result of pursuing neo-liberal policies since 1991,” he said. He blamed the government for systematically weakening the public distribution system and accused it of a statistical sleight-of-hand while measuring poverty.

“I am more inclined to believe the findings of the National Commission on Enterprises, led by Arjun Sengupta, who has estimated on the basis of the NSS (National Sample Survey) data of 2004-05 that more than 77 per cent of the country spends less than Rs 20 per head per day,” Acharia said.

Initiating the debate under rule 193 in the Lok Sabha, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta accused the government of “shameless surrender to delinquent market forces”. He was also critical of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his statement expressing difficulties in controlling inflation.

He said it was not proper for the government to “hide behind the cover of global price rise” when black-marketeers and hoarders “were having a field day” in the country.

Sachin Pilot (Congress) valiantly tried to defend the government but could not help but suggest halting of futures and forward trading in certain essential commodities till studies assess whether such trades impact prices.

Underlining that the government was taking all steps to check price rise, he said people needed to get the feeling that something was being done for them. He recommended overhauling of the public distribution system and making the delivery system more effective on a long-term basis.

According to a PTI report, daring the Left to dislodge the government over the price rise issue, the opposition BJP attacked the ruling coalition for saying it did not have a “magic wand” to tackle inflation.

“The government has said it does not have a magic wand to contain inflation. But it should not forget that when people use their stick, it will be quite harsh,” senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said in the Rajya Sabha.