AIADMK blames Centre for rise in prices of essential commodities

Chennai, Sep 19 (UNI) The Opposition AIADMK today flayed the Central and State governments for failing to take steps to control the rising prices of essential commodities.

A resolution adopted at the Party's General Council meeting here said apart from the skyrocketting prices of essential commodities, the prices of construction materials like steel, iron, cement, sand and bricks had gone up significantly.

It said the price rise was further accentuated by the frequent hike in prices of petroleum products due to wrong policies pursued by the Centre, which led to inflation touching an all-time high of 12 per cent.

The state government which has the responsibility to control the prices of essential commodities, itself was indulging in smuggling of rice and sand quarrying, thus contributing to the spiralling prices.

Observing that the prices were kept under control during the previous 2001-06 AIADMK regime, despite drought, tsunami and unprecedented floods, the resolution blamed the ineffective governance both at the Centre and State for the price hike expressing its strong condemnation.

Another resolution complimented party supremo J Jayalalithaa for filing a petition in the Supreme court for retrieving Katchatheevu which was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.

It also criticised Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for not taking any concrete steps on the issue and condemned the prevailing power cuts and the deteriorating law and order situation in the State.

The General Council also urged the Government to immediately take steps to implement the Hogenakkal drinking water scheme, which was the right of Tamil Nadu.

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