Mayawati says discussion on inflation should be prioritized in Rajya Sabha

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati told media here on Monday that the party has proposed that the issue of inflation should be taken up on priority in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament.

"Our party has taken the inflation issue very seriously, and on the first day of the Budget Session, we have given a proposal on the issue of inflation that all business in the Rajya Sabha should be stopped, and inflation should be discussed on priority, and the government should also answer," said Mayawati.

Criticizing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government, Mayawati said that instead of ushering good days as promised, they had brought inflation.

"Today is the first day of parliament, and this is the first budget session of the BJP. Since the formation of the BJP-led NDA Government, inflation has increased, the prices of many commodities such as petrol, diesel, railway tickets and other basic necessities have gone up. The poor and the middle class are suffering the most. The BJP promised 'achhe din' (good days), but they brought 'mehenge din' (inflation)," she added.

Moreover reacting to new poverty line of RS.32 per day in rural areas and Rs.47 in urban areas set by a panel headed by former Economic Advisor to Prime Minister C. Rangarajan, Mayawati said the new report makes fun of poor people, and the BSP is not satisfied with it.

The government has been continuously facing criticism from all sides over the rising inflation. Petrol and diesel prices have recently been hiked by Rs.1.69 and Rs. 0.50 per litre respectively by the Narendra Modi led BJP Government at the Centre, while onion prices have continued to see a surge upwards.

To add to that, the Centre came in for a scathing attack from the opposition over hiking railway fares, but had to partially roll back later on.