JD(U) demands CMs meeting on price rise immediately

Kanpur, July 26 (UNI) Janata Dal (U) national president Sharad Yadav today demanded that the Centre immediately convened a meeting of all the chief ministers to discuss price rise and take remedial steps to control inflation in the greater interest of the people.

Talking to mediapersons here en route to Sikandara with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr Yadav held the UPA government responsible for the price rise in the country.

''Whenever Congress comes to power, the prices of essential commodities goes up,'' he said adding, ''the Prime Minister, who is a prominent economist, has failed to check inflation.'' Mr Yadav suggested the government to review the entire economic policy as ''it has started leaving a telling effect on common man.'' ''Governmment is showing GDP at a higher side, but on the other side, farmers are forced to commit suicide. Only 10 per cent people are leading a good life, while poverty is increasing day by day.'' He claimed there was a tradition to call CMs' meeting to solve such crisis, but UPA did not convene the meeting as the Union government was controlled by ''capitalist forces''. ''India, which is the largest producer of foodgrains, is forced to import wheat,'' he observed.

Admitting that the recent increase in prices of petrol and diesel was responsible for price rise, he maintained the government could have reduced excise duty to provide succour to consumers.

On the allegation of former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh about the leakage of information regarding India's nuclear programme, Mr Yadav said the disclosure had come too late.

''Mr Singh could have disclosed the name as soon as he came to know about it. This is an important matter related to the country's security and one should not have waited for a suitable time.'' To a poser, he said JD (U) would contest assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with Apna Dal. ''Samajwadi Party and BSP will be our main opponents.'' UNI KSP VS YA PC1716