Communist Party of India (Marxists) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday termed the sky-rocketing of prices of sugar and essential commodities a “scandalous development” under the UPA regime and demanded a probe by Parliament and a white paper to expose the manipulations and profiteering that resulted in prices going out of the reach of the common man.
“We also demand that the UPA government roll back the increase in urea and other fertilizer prices in view of the deteriorating condition of the farming community due to drought, suicides and floods. I urge the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to stand firm on its demand for rollback of the increase in the fertilizer prices,” she said, taking part in the debate on the situation arising out of price rise.
“Today speculators, hoarders and traders are having a field day. The Centre refuses to accept its failure on the price rise, and it is unfortunate that no policy or course correction is taking place, and the government is indulging only in lip service. If you want the welfare of the poor and farmers, change the faulty food policies. Focus on agriculture and rural development,” she said.
Ms. Karat criticised the government for the spiralling sugar prices. She demanded a “White Paper” to bring out the “manipulations” that led to the massive price rise.
“Sugar millowners have been the biggest beneficiaries of these manipulations, through which their profits had gone up by almost 2,000 per cent in the recent months. It is shocking that when the common man was struggling for sugar, the Maharashtra government, along with the Centre, gave a subsidy of Rs. 2,350 a tonne to those who exported sugar. Parliament should probe this scam to bring out the truth.” Ms. Karat said the government was “infatuated with the market” and left the path of self-reliance in food production. She charged the UPA regime with systematically destroying the public distribution system and questioned the government's decision to lift the ban on future trading of wheat clandestinely. She demanded an immediate halt to it.
Burning issue: Raja
D. Raja of the Communist Party of India said price rise was the most burning issue in the country today, and there was anger in the minds of people. He demanded that the PDS be universalised; futures trading banned; the Essential Commodities Act strengthened; and stern action taken against hoarders. “If market forces could reduce prices, what is the need for a government? The government has failed to act.”
