Talking to reporters after the day-long interaction with Chief Ministers and top ministers for which Gandhi had set the agenda for the discussion by his opening remarks on corruption and inflation as core issues, AICC Communciation Department Chief Ajay Maken listed four measures that Congress Chief Ministers agreed to implement.
"All Congress-ruled states will by January 15 delist the fruits and vegetables from their respective Agricultural Produce Markets Committee (APMC) Acts so that the farmers have a choice of where to sell their produce and consumers will get the benefit of lower prices," Maken said, as Gandhi sought to work out a strategy to woo voters.
All Congress-ruled states have also been directed to invoke Essential Commodities Act 1955 to deal sternly with hoarding, blackmarketing and profiteering. "Chronic offenders may also be detained under the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980, " he added.
A decision was also taken that all these states will immediately take steps to open fair price shops, either government-owned or run women's self-help groups that will sell fruits, vegetables and eggs are fair and reasonable prices.
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Immediately after the results of the Assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were out, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had listed price rise as an issue that could have led to the rout of the party in these states.
Addressing a FICCI conference, Rahul Gandhi had also flagged concerns over price rise and noted that tackling inflation was the top priority.