'Alibi is not a substitute for the tears and hunger of common-man. This government needs to have little compassion so far as the common-man is concerned,' Arun Jaitley said.
The opposition today intensified its attack on the government for price rise, accusing it of "snatching dal-roti" from the common-man.
Initiating discussion on a motion moved by him, leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley said in Rajya Sabha that containing inflation was a "mirage for this government which drives through the desert....it is a government of alibis".
Terming price rise as unlegislated tax on the common-man, the BJP leader said the purchasing power of people was getting eroded.
He said that earlier at least the middle class could have food security. But with inflation, even its "dal-roti is getting snatched".
Referring to promises made by prime minister Manmohan Singh and his ministerial colleagues to check price rise, Jaitley said, "Alibi is not a substitute for the tears and hunger of common-man. This government needs to have little compassion so far as the common-man is concerned."
Holding the government responsible for allowing foodgrains to rot in the absence of storage facility, Jaitely said it showed "callousness and irresponsibility unmatched in history."
He said official estimates have put out a figure of rotting foodgrains at 61,000 tonnes, but it was under-statement.
He said that for pensioners and salaried earners the interest on their saving is much lower than the inflation.
Charging the government with being insensitive to the plight of the common citizens, Jaitley said the government was instead busy with allowing people to generate private wealth in the name of Commonwealth Games.
"The whole nation watches with anger that it is not merely the stadiums which are leaking, it is the government’s coffers which are leaking," he said.
Jaitley said food inflation has declined from 23%, but even 12% is very high. The general inflation, in double digit, is much higher than those in India's comparable economies like Brazil, China, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
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