Most political parties, including some United Front partners, yesterday criticised the governments decision to hike the price of sugar in the public distribution system (PDS) from Rs 9.05 to Rs 10.50 per kg. However, the Congress criticism was remarkably muted.
Although the United Front steering committee met only on Sunday, they were not consulted about the impending hike. Many of the UF leaders who participated in the meeting were not aware of the decision till it was announced on Monday. Predictably, some CPI(M) leaders were upset.
The UFs steering committee meeting in January had decided to put off a decision on the price hike, following opposition from Left leaders. The Union cabinet had then taken a decision in late January to increase the price to Rs 10.50 but put off announcing it.
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Some ministers had held that the decision would be announced after the steering committee cleared it but, as it turned out, the Prime Minister was only waiting for the Punjab Assembly elections and the scattered by-elections to be over.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M)s politbureau statement diapproved of the decision, saying it would enhance the suffering of the common man. And this was being done to save just Rs 50 crore, politbureau member Sitaram Yechury added.
It is further deplorable that this administered price hike should have been resorted to, without taking into confidence, the Parliament which is due to meet in about a week, the statement said.
CPI leaders echoed similar sentiments and said they would seek clarification from the government at the next steering committee meeting. CPI secretary M Farooqui described the decision as anti-poor. The Congress spokesperson did not react until he was specifically asked. He then said that every person in India will appreciate and realise that it is anti-poor. On being asked whether the Congress would warn the UF government on this issue, he said we dont issue warnings everyday.
The BJP said the government of the humble farmer which professes to work for the poor, has struck another blow at them: this time by raising the PDS price of sugar by whooping Rs 1.45 paise.
Partys spokesman Yashwant Sinha said the hike was a link in the same chain of events which hiked the price of petroleum and wheat. The government should not have made the announcement particularly when Parliaments budget session is slated to beegin in ten days, he held. This showed the UF government, like its predecessor, is treating parliament with contempt.