States should help bring down prices: Congress

New Delhi, June 26: The Congress today called upon the States to share the responsibility with the Union Government to ensure that the prices of essential commodities are brought down in the country.

''While the Centre is doing its best to check the price hike, it is the responsibility of the States equally to see to it that the prices do not show a rising trend, instead of merely criticising the Centre for the same,'' Congress Spokesman Rajeev Shukla said.

He told reporters here that some steps taken by the Union Government had resulted in containing the price rise. The Government had opened up the imports of pulses, sugar and wheat and placed restrictions on their exports.

Hoarders of the essential commodies had been warned of stern action under the Essential Commodities Act. This would have its effect in bringing down the prices.

Mr Shukla said the Government was also concerned about the increase in the prices of seasonal vegetables and had initiated measures to bring down their prices. The prices of tomato in Delhi markets have shown a declining trend, he added.

Stating that the hike in prices of essential commodities was mainly due to hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, Mr Shukla said the middlemen in the markets also contributed in a large measure to the price hike. Action against them was also in the offing.

UNI

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