Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday appealed to the government to acknowledge the problem of rising inflation affecting the poor in India in order to fix it, but the ruling BJP asserted that it is a problem arisen due to global development beyond the control of any country.
Participating in a short-duration discussion on rising prices of essential items, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said price rise hurts everyone and the Narendra Modi-led central government is constantly working to check it.
The inflation is ruling at 7% now and has not yet reached the double-digit level like in the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, he said.
Mr. Javadekar further said due to coronavirus and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the supply chain was hit, pushing up the fuel and food prices globally.
"This is beyond the control of any country. Not only India, prices have risen in other countries too," he said.
However, the burden of high fuel prices on the common man could have been reduced had the non-BJP States cut the value-added tax (VAT), he said, adding that the Centre had reduced the taxes on petrol and diesel twice and it was followed by BJP-ruled states.
Accusing the Opposition of doublespeak on Goods and Services Tax (GST), the former Union minister said the Opposition had "unanimously" agreed to 5% GST on pre-packed food items in the GST Council Meeting, but when talking to media outside, the same tax became "Gabbar tax".
For undertaking developmental work, he said funds are required.
"Money does not come by printing but by generating income," he said.
On concerns over rupee depreciation, Mr. Javadekar said the Indian rupee has appreciated in comparison with other currencies.
"It is a problem in other countries. We are faring better than other currencies," he said.
He further said the International Monetary Fund in its report has said India at 6.8% growth rate is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. There is no talk about recession in India like in the United States, he said.
"To tackle price rise, the Modi government has worked constantly and will continue to do so. Price rise is across the world. We are moving towards development, giving social justice and doing economically well," the senior BJP leader added.
Initiating the discussion, CPI(M)'s Elamaram Kareem said there has been a constant increase in prices of essential commodities in the last eight years of Modi government.
Despite record foodgrains, it is tragic testimony that farmers are fighting to get better prices and consumers are weighed down by high prices, he said, adding that the government should have distributed the surplus stock to the poor through the public distribution system (PDS).
Imposition of GST on pre-packed food items has further put burden on the poor. The government should tax the rich not the poor, he said and added there was no unanimous decision in the GST Council on this issue.
"Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had made an arbitrary statement and should withdraw it," Mr. Kareem added.
Refuting Mr. Javadekar's claims, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said rising prices of essential commodities coupled with the imposition of GST on pre-packed food items, which was not agreed upon by the Opposition in the GST Council, and unemployment is affecting the poor badly. On top of it, rupee appreciation has put pressure on the economy, he said.
"We appeal to the government as a constructive Opposition, first, you have to acknowledge the problem. If you do not acknowledge the problem, how will you fix the problem?" he said.
Brien further said the cess and surcharge have been increased to 20% from 10% 10 years ago. Two-third of it is collected by the Centre, thereby reducing the states' share.
"About 29% of youth are jobless in India. Subsidy on cooking gas has come down, but not the retail prices," he said and sought the finance minister to respond to these issues.
Echoing similar views, Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, "People are fed up. In a democracy, the government should listen to the Opposition. But today it is not so." Prices of vegetables to fuel have risen sharply and people are committing suicide due to unemployment, he added.
