'Set up Food Advisory Committee to control price'

Vijayawada, July 20: The Communist Party of India (CPI) today demanded the Congress-led State Government to set up a Food Advisory Committee to control the prices of essential commodities.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI State Secretary K Narayana said the government should convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue.

He flayed the statement made by Civil Supplies Minister N Raghuveera Reddy who stated that the prices could not be controlled by the state government as the previous NDA government had amended the essential commodities Act.

He said the prices of petrol and diesel in the state was high only due to the 32 per cent of excise duty and sales tax.

He demanded the state government to dismiss the commissioner of employment and training K Mangapathi Rao, who allegedly harassed a women officer with out any enquiry.

Commenting on the government's proposal to acquire farmers land for setting up industries, Mr Narayana said though the state government came forward to pay compensation, it should also take measures to ensure that the farmers get due shares from the industries after it earned profit.

On the practice of auctioning the post of sarpanches in some villages, he said the State Election Commission should take it seriously and hold the election afresh.

UNI