No 'concrete power' to check food inflation: Paswan

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Friday his department had no "concrete power" to check food inflation, as prices of food commodities showed an increasing trend. The department, he said, has to rely on the actions taken by others, including the state governments, to check hoarding to make any tangible impact on the prices.

The opposition Congress latched on to the comment as a signs of crack in the ruling NDA coalition following its comprehensive defeat in the Bihar elections. "Cracks have started appearing in the NDA. Prices are spiralling and Consumer Affairs Minister Paswan ji says he has no power to control prices. If Paswan says he is unable to control prices, then who will?" Congress spokesman Meem Afzal asked in a twitter post.

He said the Bihar victory has opened the eyes of NDA partners and people are angry because of false promises and high prices. Officials in the department of consumer affairs meanwhile said that they had sought more powers to rein in prices more effectively.

Prices of pulses, prices of onion, tomato and peas have risen sharply in recent months, hurting household budgets. In the past month, prices of pulses had touched Rs 210 a kg. It had ruled above Rs 150 a kg for some time. The price of tomato had also nearly doubled and touched Rs 60 a kg.

Officials said the department of consumer affairs might raise the issue with the Prime Minister. "The department of consumer affairs should be the nodal agency for all issues related to increase in price of essential commodities," an official said.

The department monitors the prices of 22 essential food items and it can ask states to impose stockholding limits and issue directions to carry out dehoarding operations.

The agriculture ministry is responsible for production and manages the price stabilisation fund. The gap between supply and demand is a subject of the commerce ministry. Tax-related issues are dealt with by the finance ministry. The NITI Aayog plays a role in planning.

Officials said Paswan would soon hold an informal meeting with secretaries of food, consumer affairs and agriculture departments, along with their counterparts in the finance and commerce ministries to ensure proper coordination.

"The consumer affairs department does not have any concrete power to check food inflation," Paswan told reporters here.

Prices of pulses, prices of onion, tomato and peas have risen sharply in recent months, hurting household budgets. In the past month, prices of pulses had touched Rs 210 a kg. It had ruled above Rs 150 a kg for some time. The price of tomato had also nearly doubled and touched Rs 60 a kg.

Officials said the department of consumer affairs might raise the issue with the Prime Minister.

"The department of consumer affairs should be the nodal agency for all issues related to increase in price of essential commodities," an official said.

The department monitors the prices of 22 essential food items and it can ask states to impose stockholding limits and issue directions to carry out dehoarding operations.

The agriculture ministry is responsible for production and manages the price stabilisation fund. The gap between supply and demand is a subject of the commerce ministry. Tax-related issues are dealt with by the finance ministry.

The NITI Aayog plays a role in planning. Officials said Paswan would soon hold an informal meeting with secretaries of food, consumer affairs and agriculture departments, along with their counterparts in the finance and commerce ministries to ensure proper coordination.