BJP delegation meets PM on price rise

A delegation of BJP top brass led by L K Advani today submitted a memorandum on rising prices of sugar and essential commodities to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who assured that the government would take appropriate steps to keep a check on it.

Besides Advani, party president Nitin Gadkari, senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, S S Ahluwalia, Ananth Kumar were also part of the delegation.

"The Prime Minister assured us of all possible measures to control prices and also to examine the suggestions given by us," Advani said after the meeting.

Rising prices of essential commodities, especially sugar, has given BJP a handle to take on the government as well as to revive the sagging morale of its party cadre after the second consecutive Lok Sabha poll defeat last year.

BJP has launched the nation-wide stir from the district to the national level in three phases. The party workers will culminate with a gherao of Parliament in the second week of March.

After today's meeting with the PM, Advani said, "Not merely the weaker sections and BPL families, but the entire middle class is affected by inflation, particularly of food articles."

Gadkari asserted that it was not correct on the part of the Centre to accuse the state governments for exorbitant increase in prices.

He insisted that increasing prices were a result of shortcomings in the government policies. Price rise was benefiting the corporates and traders, he added.