The government today came under sharp attack on the issue of price rise with the Opposition accusing it of failing to curb inflation and the BJP even asking it to quit if it fails to "find a way out" of the current situation.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj accused the government of pursuing wrong economic policies, while Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) said the seasonal reprieve from inflation should not work as a respite for the government which should aim at brining down inflation in the long term.
Referring to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement 'I don't know where this country is going' made after a man slapped Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Swaraj said it was the duty of the government of the day to find a way out.
"...You find a way. If you cannot, leave the chair and then we will show the way," Swaraj said, winding up her speech on a discussion on inflation.
She blamed "wrong" economic policies and corruption in government behind price rise.
"CAG has exposed six scams worth crores of rupees. 60,000 tonne of foodgrain is rotting in in godowns and government has taken a loan of Rs 53,000 crore...The RBI has increased interest rates 13 times...Have goodies by taking loan," she said.
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At one point, Swaraj and Mukherjee had a brief exchange of words.
Swaraj asked Mukherjee to listen to what she was saying instead of reading documents.
Mukherjee shot back by saying that it was repeat of her old speeches and said he was listening to "every word" she has said while going through the notes.
At this Swaraj said the speech can be changed if the government is able to change in situation, prompting the Finance Minister to say that people know what the BJP did when it was in power.