Present situation very crucial for UPA: D Raja

{image-inflation+rbi_06042008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Apr 6: At a time when Indian consumers are bearing the brunt of soaring inflation, Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary D Raja has said that the present situation is 'very critical and crucial' for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government.

Terming the Central Government measures to curb inflation as 'too little and too late,' Raja, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said that from April 17,his party would launch a nationwide agitation against the issue of price rise. "All the prices for food has hit a record high and whatever measures, the government has taken to contain the inflation is too late," he said.

Raja suggested that the government must ban forward trading in agri-products, adding, "It's a time for a course correction for the government in the good of the people of the country. And now, if they fails in doing that then it will be their failure and they can not blame the Left Parties for that."

It would be pertinent to mention here that on Saturday ASSOCHAM predicted that inflation would continue to soar for next three to four months, and may even touch the 7.5 per cent mark.

In order to check inflation, the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, decided to abolish import duty on all crude edible oils, including palm and soya, and banned the export of non-basmati rice and pulses.

Blaming the Congress Party for it's anti-people policies, Raja said: "Congress has already bearing the brunt for it's wrong policies." They have lost elections in various states, he added.

ANI