Centre asked to submit white paper on price hike

Mangalore, May 19: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Rajnath Singh today demanded that the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre immediately come out with a white paper on the steep hike in the prices of all essential commodities.

Addressing a press conference here, he claimed that during the previous BJP-led NDA rule, the prices were under control and alleged that ever since the UPA government assumed power two years ago, all essential goods are being sold in black market.

Mr Singh also demanded that the Centre order an inquiry into the import of wheat from an Australian firm, blacklisted by the Volcker Commission in the Iraq Oil-for-Food Scam. He also wondered why had the Centre imported wheat when there was need for it.

Criticising the UPA government for rejecting the findings of the Mukherjee Commission constituted to go into the mysterious death of veteran freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the BJP leader demanded that the government make public the Commission's report.

Further inquiry into the entire episode was required to take the issue to its logical conclusion, he added.

Asked about the Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Singh pointed out that while the nuclear policy framed by the previous NDA Government was appreciated by one and all, the one drafted by the UPA government had created "suspicion".

Ruling out differences within the party, he said he had not received any letter from the party's state unit on dissidence.

Appreciating the performance of the JD (S)-BJP coalition government in the state, Mr Singh said it had done a major achievement by providing farm loans at the rate of four per cent.

Mr Singh was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and other party leaders.

UNI