Prices were never so high under the UPA: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Asserting that inflation has risen to unprecedented levels under the stewardship of the BJP-led Government, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said that prices were never so high when the UPA regime was in office between 2004 and 2014.

"If UPA raised prices, it was done gradually. But, in the last one-and-a-half months, prices have skyrocketed," said Azad during a Budget Session intervention in the Rajya Sabha.

"Prices are rising all over India. The prices of diesel, cooking gas have gone up. Diesel affects other commodities. Food inflation has gone from 8 percent to 9.5 percent in just a month and half. Rice, eggs, tomatoes, milk, dals, coconut everything is costing more," he added.

The 42-day-long Budget Session of Parliament began today and will have 28 sittings.

During this period, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government's first Railway and General Budgets on July 8 and July 10 respectively.

The Economic Survey will be released on July 9. The session will end on August 14.

During the session, the Congress-led Opposition is likely to put pressure on the government on issues such as inflation, the hike in rail and fuel fares, womens' safety and the communal flareup in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad District.

The Congress may also push its case for the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on grounds that it has the most seats (44) in the opposition.

The Trinamool Congress and Left parties have said they will seek a discussion on inflation, internal security and federalism after the presentation of the Rail and General Budgets.

The government is also expected to make a statement in both Houses of Parliament on the plight of Indians in strife-torn Iraq.