Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, BJP leader Sushil Modi clash on price rise

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and BJP leader Sushil Modi clashed on Thursday over the NDA government's measures to check price rise with Hooda saying "mahange (costly) days" await people as Modi sought more tome before Narendra Modi dispensation is judged.

Defending the hike in rail fares and fuel price, Modi said these decisions were outcome of steps taken by UPA government, inviting a sharp retort from Hooda who said NDA government should stop citing reasons for hiking prices and rising inflation and instead offer solutions.

"One should not dig out a seed every day to check if it has begun sprouting. You should wait for the final outcome of the decisions. If patient (economy) is ill, he needs bitter pills," Modi said. They were debating at an event organised by Aaj Tak India today Group.

"VAT is so low on diesel in Haryana and we don't tax LPG cylinders. Why do not BJP-ruled states follow it? They should do what is in their hands. In campaign, a dream was sold to people that a man with a magic wand will solve all problems.

Where is the wand"? he said in a dig at the Prime Minister. Hooda also accused the Centre of "discrimination", saying it rolled back the rail fare hike in Mumbai suburban trains but did not revise it for local trains criss-crossing NCR towns.

"Almost all MPs in Delhi and NCR areas are from BJP. Why don't they pressure the government? Just because Maharashtra is going to polls, it revised fares," he said.

Modi, the former Bihar deputy CM, said rise in prices of vegetables and fruits is temporary. He said when Goods and Services Tax is rolled out, it will also cause price rise initially but that does not mean that it will be bad in long term.