BJP demands white paper for discussion on price rise in Parliament

New Delhi, July 29 (UNI) Alleging that price rise and inflation had taken an ''unprecedented speed'' under the UPA regime, BJP president Rajnath Singh today demanded the Centre to come out with a white paper to facilitate a discussion in the ongoing session of Parliament on the situation and its effect on the common man.

Addressing the members of the construction sector of the PHD Chambers of Commerce, Mr Singh said the UPA government had revised the prices of petroleum products seven times after it came to power and the nation expected better handling of the national economy by the three renowned economists--Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Taking exception to the attitude of the Centre in handling the price of petroleum products, Mr Singh said it should have shown the way for the states by reducing import duties on petroleum products rather than asking the resources-starved states to reduce sales taxes.

In the era of globalisation, the BJP was not for isolating India and its economy but at the same time its economic sovereignty should not be undermined and the country should reject things that affect interests of common man, he said.

Expressing concern over increasing corruption, Mr Singh said the administration could be rid of this malaise only if political leadership was honest. He said it was also necessary to reduce the importance of muscle and money power in elections. If corruption is reduced, the influence of black money in elections will stop, he added.

Describing the fall in values as one of the reasons for rise in incidents of corruption, Mr Singh say today's youth would rather prefer to view the portrait of a starlet than get inspired by a personality like Rani Laxmibai.

UNI MCN/KAS MSJ PM1951