SP joins oppn in attacking govt on price rise

Samajwadi Party, which provides outside support to UPA, today joined the opposition in slamming the government for rise in prices of essential commodities including onion and the current state of economy.
Participating in a short duration discussion in Rajya Sabha on abnormal rise in prices of onion and other essential commodities, Naresh Agrawal (SP) said the price of the vegetable has touched Rs 80 per kg but the government has failed to come out with a solution.
"The price of onion has touched Rs 80 per kg. Why was the warning about the spike in onion price about two months back not taken seriously and no one responded to National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation's (Nafed) offer in June to procure and store onions at its cold storage complex at Nashik," he said.

The price rise has put additional burden on the common man already being confronted with high inflation, he said.
Slamming the government decision to put a cap on subsidised gas cylinders, Agrawal said people will give a "fitting reply" in the next elections.
Balbir Punj (BJP) said prices of onion has increased by 31 per cent during the last one year as compared to the 16 per cent rise in prices of potato and 18 per cent increase in the prices of vegetables in general.

But, as compared to last July, onion prices increased by 145 per cent, making it a "luxury" item, he said and blamed this on "artificial shortage" of onions created by hoarders.

Punj said the economic survey of last year had also talked about high food inflation but the government took no steps.
Comparing the existing state of economy with 'stagflation' where demand is falling but inflation is rising, he said the economic crisis was due to presence of a "second government" within the UPA government -- the National Advisory Council.
"This government should be thrown out lock, stock and barrel into the dustbin of history", he said.
S P Singh Baghel (BSP) and K P Ramalingam (DMK) also spoke.