LS urges govt to take effective steps to contain inflation

Taking note of concerns over rising prices, the Lok Sabha today adopted a motion urging the government to take further effective actions to contain adverse impact of inflation on common man.

The motion was adopted after a marathon debate during which the Opposition had accused the government of being insensitive to the sufferings of people, a charge rejected by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who outlined various initiatives being taken by the government.

"This House takes a considered view of inflation and urges the government to take further effective action to contain its (inflation) impact on common man," Meira Kumar, Speaker, Lok Sabha, said.

The issue of price rise was discussed in the form of the motion as a compromise after a week-long deadlock over the mode of debate as opposition parties demanded voting, which was opposed by the government.

Mukherjee, in his hour-long reply, listed a series of steps taken by the government to contain price rise to ameliorate sufferings of vulnerable sections of the society.

The Finance Minister used the opportunity to make a strong plea to the entire spectrum of political parties for support to the government's move for implementing Goods and Services Tax (GST) replacing a layer of state and central taxes and duties.

Rejecting a charge of being insensitive to common man's sufferings, the Finance Minister said, "If government was not sensitive it would not have gone for Right to Education as also jobs for the rural poor and entitlement of food grains through a legal enactment. All these are indications of the sensitivities of the government towards people."

He also hit out at the BJP-led NDA government wondering whether their decision to increase kerosene price from Rs two a litre to Rs 9 was an act of being sensitive to the people.

"As a village boy I have studied up to class X under a lamp of kerosene. I used to walk 10 kms everyday. So I know the life of a villager. Don't ridicule my sensitivity," Mukherjee said.