JD(U) criticises UPA for inflation, unemployment

New Delhi, May 8: Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav today criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for rising inflation, unemployment and poverty in the country forcing farmers, workers and students to commit suicide and demanded that a Inflation Control Commission be set up.

Mr Yadav, who sat a dharna at the Jantar Mantar here to protest against rising inflation, said in a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the price of essential commodities have increased during the past two years of UPA government rule making them out of reach of the common people. He gave a comparative price list of essential commodities during NDA regime and UPA rule to prove his point that the price rise has been significant making the life of common people difficult.

He said that the government was not ready to pay even Rs 700 per quintal to Indian farmers for wheat while deciding to import wheat from Australia at Rs 930 per quintal. Pointing out that farmers are being driven to commit suicide, Mr Yadav said that his party would not allow the UPA to import wheat against the interest of farmers.

He demanded that the government policy of reducing agricultural subsidy be immediately stopped and loans of farmers who have repaid the principal amount be waived.

Mr Yadav said that while he was the consumer affairs minister in the NDA government, the wheat stock was 650 lakh Metric tonnes which has come down to 90 lakh metric tonnes now due to faulty policies of the UPA government which favours blackmarket and hoarders. He demanded that the farmers be given their due money for agricultural produce and steps be taken to complete the irrigation projects pending in various parts of the country. Meanwhile, all the people displaced by such projects should be rehabilitated and given employment.

The Janata Dal (United) leader also criticised the Samajwadi Party for granting land to Mr Anil Ambani of Reliance Industries at throwaway price for a power plant while farmers are not getting their dues.

Criticising the Government for spending Rs 29 crore on film actors for performing for just ten minutes at the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne, Mr Yadav demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.

He questioned the justification of spending Rs 10,000 crore on the Commonwealth Games in 2010 when the country has failed to get many medals in international sports and said that training facilities be first launched before organising such events.

Mr Yadav said that the process of reduction on subsidy on petrol, diesel and LPG be stopped so that there was no hike in their prices.

He called for controlling the number of private vehicles and promoting public vehicles to reduce use of petrol/diesel.

The JD(U) leader, who is a vehement supporter of reservation in educational institutions, demanded that the Common School system be implemented in all parts of the country.

He said that the practice of selling public properties in the name of privatisation be stopped. Besides, the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports be stopped and charges of corruption in these deals should be investigated.

UNI