'Tackling price rise a collective responsibility'

Union minister for agriculture and food Sharad Pawar has finally broken his silence and downplayed the controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks blaming coalition politics for price rise.

Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key UPA ally, told Business Standard, “The decisions regarding price rise are taken collectively. The prime minister, his economic advisor, the finance minister, the home minister, myself and the planning commission’s deputy chairman take periodic reviews. Besides, there is an empowered group of ministers which reviews the situation and takes necessary decisions to tackle price rise.”

Pawar was speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of a government polytechnic college at Manchar in Pune district.

Pawar’s clarification follows close confidant and civil aviation minister Praful Patel’s remarks that Rahul Gandhi did not make special mention of any individual or party. He, too, had termed tackling price rise a collective responsibility. He had even contradicted NCP general secretary DP Tripathi’s strong criticism of Rahul’s remarks. Tripathi had further said that Congress should look at Italy to learn lessons in coalition politics.

“It was a single party government then (during Indira Gandhi’s prime ministership). Now, it is a coalition and has some compulsions,” Rahul had said in a reply to students in Lucknow, who had asked as to why the UPA government was not able to control inflation and corruption, when his grandmother and late prime minister Indira Gandhi could.

Meanwhile, Pawar also clarified his party had no objections if the Congress decided to fight the ensuing civic body elections in Maharashtra alone. NCP and Congress are running a coalition government in Maharashtra since 1999.

“Every party has the freedom to take a decision. If the Congress decides to go solo, why should NCP have any objection. Same is the case with NCP,” he noted.

Pawar’s statement is crucial as differences between NCP and Congress have resurfaced on a number of occasions.

Meanwhile, Pawar said he had already requested the prime minister to ease his burden. “It is the prime minister’s prerogative,” he noted. Pawar has appealed before the PM to relieve him from some of his ministerial responsibilities. He has reiterated his stand at a time when the PM is expected to reshuffle his council of ministers.