Left parties to discuss Nalco, price rise

Holding the government squarely responsible for price rise, the four parties "" CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, supporting the Congress-led coalition from outside "" will meet on Tuesday to discuss disinvestment of Nalco and the overall political situation.

"This is shedding crocodile tears", Forward Bloc General Secretary Debabrata Biswas said reacting to the CWC meeting on price rise and plans by the Congress to hold an interaction with chief ministers of party-ruled states.

He asked: "Don't they know what the reasons (for the rising inflation graph) are? We have been raising these problems for so long but they have neither paid any heed to our suggestions nor taken any action on the matter."

"Congress, when it expresses concern over the price situation, acknowledges rising inflation. It cannot escape responsibility as it has been in power for over two years, during which the Left parties have been agitating on these issues," CPI National Secretary D Raja said.

RSP leader Abani Roy and CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu also blamed the government policies, including the hikes in petro product prices, for the general price rise.

'Even before this year's Budget, we have pointedly raised so many issues -- from agriculture policy to procurement and public distribution system, which have their ultimate impact on the prices. Due to delayed action or inaction, the situation is spinning out of control,' Basu said.

He said government has opened procurement to private traders, which was 'a major source of hoarding and black- marketeering, thereby further weakening PDS'.

'The government must realise that the vulnerable sections of the people are so large in number and unless there is meaningful state intervention, the problem cannot be tackled', the CPI(M) leader said.

He disputed whether one-time financial package for the drought-hit farmers and in areas which have witnessed suicide by farmers would help ameliorate the situation.

'It is heartening to see that even the poor Vidarbha farmers realise that one-time package would not do. What is required is long term policy'.

'Government should also understand the direct linkage between its taxation policy on petro products and the rise in prices,' Basu said.