Control prices of essential commodities, Delhi CM tells Pawar

New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) Burdened with distress calls from the 'Aam Aadmi' (common man), Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today sought the personal intervention of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to check the spurt in prices of essential commodities.

''There is an urgent need to ensure that certain essential commodities remain within the affordable reach of the common man, particularly of the targeted groups,'' Ms Dikshit was quoted as having said in a letter to the Minister.

According to an official spokesman, Ms Dikshit pointed out in the letter that several delegations, mostly consisting of women, had met her to convey the distress caused to the common household because of the rise in open market prices of certain essential commodities, including pulses.

She requested Mr Pawar to review the concern of the ordinary consumer ''personally'' and take appropriate steps to ensure that the prices of edibles of daily need did not go beyond the reach of the common man, the spokesman said.

The Chief Minister expressed concern that the prices of most of the commodities, particularly pulses, were showing an upward trend due to forward trading, he said.

Meanwhile, the National Akali Dal organised a protest march near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib against the price spiral. Party chief Paramjeet Singh Pamma demanded the Chief Minister's resignation saying a government that cannot control prices of essential items had no moral right to continue in office.

The party organised a sale of pulses, cereals and vegetables at half the open market price as part of its protest programme.

UNI VN LR VV1755