'Worthless' UPA govt will be voted out on inflation: Kirti Azad

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Kirti Azad on Wednesday targeted the Congress-led UPA Government for being unable to curb inflation, and said the country would benefit as soon as the ruling party is voted out of power.

"This government has been absolutely unsuccessful. Especially, when the economic head is the Prime Minister, who has failed to curb inflation. I can only say that it is a worthless government and the sooner they go, the better it is for the country,” Azad said.

Recalling that the BJP had lost the previous election on the basis of soaring onion prices in the country, Azad predicted that the present trend of inflation of key commodities like onions is likely to continue and impact the direction of votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

“At that time, onions were priced around Rs. 40 per kilogram. Today, it has doubled to about Rs. 80 per kilogram, and it can hit a century at any time. Inflation is hitting the people strongly and the impact of it will become clear in the upcoming elections. The Congress will be voted out,” he said.

Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal, however, on Tuesday remained optimistic about the curbing of inflation in the country, and said the recent trend of the strengthening rupee gives hope that key commodity prices will decline.

Pal also commented on food inflation, which hit a three-year high after food prices rose over 18 percent in the month of August, and said that he was hopeful that prices would come down soon following constructive measures taken to curb the problem.

"Definitely, food inflation has gone up. However, if you look, this month every year sees a scarcity of onions, but we have been able to control the prices and import the product from other areas," Pal said.

"We are hoping that this is the maximum inflation. Now, as soon as the onions come into the market, food inflation will also be curbed significantly," he added.

Inflation in the country touched its six-month high last month, which saw a 245 percent annual hike in onion prices.