BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad accused agriculture minister Sharad Pawar of not doing enough to control prices of sugar and other essential commodities.
The BJP today said prices of essential commodities were rising due to the "ad hoc and haphazard" handling of the issue by the government and warned it against passing on the blame to state governments.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad accused agriculture minister Sharad Pawar of not doing enough to control prices of sugar and other essential commodities.
"Pawar's statement today on price rise is completely irresponsible. To cover his mistakes, he is passing on the blame to the states," he said.
Pawar had reportedly accused the state governments of not listening to the Centre's suggestions on controlling inflation leading to galloping sugar prices.
"Congress has a coalition government in Maharashtra, it is in power in Andhra Pradesh and in Delhi they have been elected to power for 15 years under a popular chief minister. Why are prices high in these states?" Prasad asked.
The BJP MP challenged the agriculture minister to come out with specific data about states to prove his point and alleged that Pawar's style of functioning was aiding speculators and hoarders.
"Whenever Pawar opens his mouth about any item or price rise, the prices rise higher and higher," Prasad insisted. He said prime minister Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Pawar himself should explain why prices are rising.
"In May 2009, when this UPA government came to power, the prime minister had listed controlling prices as one of the main agenda of the first 100 days," Prasad said, adding both Singh and Gandhi owed an explanation to the nation as they had gone to the people with this promise during polls.
He said prices of essential commodities were rising as government was handling the issue in an "ad hoc and haphazard manner" which was benefiting the hoarders.
Prasad accused Pawar of not showing enough foresight in ensuring adequate stock of sugar and taking other measures to control prices.
"In December, Pawar had said in Parliament that sugarcane crop follows a five-year cycle in which for three years the crop is good and for two years it is bad. If he knew this why were adequate steps not taken?" Prasad posed. He maintained that as head of the government the responsibility of controlling prices lay with the prime minister.
"Why is the prime minister not changing Sharad Pawar's portfolio?" Prasad asked. BJP has alleged that the government also kept the masses in the dark about the stock position of sugar and indulged in an export-import scam.
"Sugar was exported at Rs 12 per kg and six months later it had to be imported at Rs 30-35 per kg," Prasad said.
The government should explain how the "food economy of surplus" during the NDA regime turned into "food economy of scarcity", the BJP leader added.
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