NDA launches attack against UPA on price hike

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) Launching its offensive against the UPA on increase in petroleum prices, the Opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today held a protest rally here and said the Government's policies are anti-poor and it should be ''thrown out'' of power.

NDA leaders, including Leader of Opposition L K Advani and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said during the two-year reign of the Congress-led UPA government, inflation had shot up considerably and the common man was the worst affected.

They said the ''anti-poor policies'' of the Government had only led to more ''difficulties and miseries'' for the weaker sections.

It announced a nation-wide agitation on June 19 to protest against the Centre's decision, announced on May 5.

Other NDA leaders who addressed the rally, held at Jantar Mantar here, were BJP President Rajnath Singh, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and Shiv Sena leaders Manohar Joshi and Ananth Geethe.

Barring Mr Vajpayee, all NDA leaders courted arrest and were released immediately.

Coming down heavily on the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government, Mr Vajpayee said the Centre can not pressurise state governments to cut down taxes to reduce prices when it had hiked them.

''The Centre must roll back the prices. Inflation has skyrocketed because of this decision....It is not the responsibility of the state government to provide relief to the people,'' he added.

The former Prime Minister said during the past two years petroleum prices had been increased seven times and the Government had not given any reason for them.

''During the NDA tenure, whenever the prices were hiked we launched measures to check inflation. The present Government has not done anything to save the common man from bearing the brunt of its recent decision,'' he added.

Mr Vajpayee said to pressurise the government in announcing the rollback and providing much-needed succour to the common man, people should join hands with the NDA and fight till they achieve success.

''This will be our next move and I am hopeful that we will succeed,'' added.

UNI