Centre failed to handle price rise: BJP leader

Tiruchirapalli, Apr 4 (UNI) Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president H Raja today criticised the Centre for its inept handling to contain the hike in prices of essential commodities.

Instead of taking firm steps to bring down the prices of essential commodities the Congress-led UPA government enacted a 'drama to cheat' the people, he said at a press conference here.

The Union Government, without wasting time on the decision of the parliamentary committee appointed to find out ways and means to bring down the prices should immediately ban online trading as this was the only way to combat the price rise.

Referring to the violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Hogenakkal comprehensive water supply scheme, he said while the Karnataka BJP unit was in no way responsible for such untoward incidents, the BJP in Tamil Nadu would fight for protecting the rights of the state.

Taking strong exception to the remarks made by some filmstars that the BJP was the root cause for fomenting trouble in Karnataka, he said they have no moral right to find fault with the BJP. In what way were the innocent people and general public benefitted by them, he asked.

He said senior party leader L K Advani would visit Sivaganga on April 30 and address a rally after the culmination of the Ratha Yatra, which recently began from Nilgiris.

The BJP leader said the adminstration of the Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu, presently manned by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department should be handed over to an autonomous body, comprising philanthropists, Tamil scholors and religious leaders.

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