Cong shedding crocodile tears on price rise: Left

Terming Congress concerns over price rise as "shedding crocodile tears", Left parties have blamed the policies pursued by the UPA government for the predicament and would be meeting here on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.

The four parties -  CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, supporting the Congress-led coalition from outside, are meeting for deliberating on the price situation, 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.