Left to put government in dock over price rise

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) The Left parties today resolved to take up the spiralling price rise in a big way during the Budget Session of Parliament, while slamming the UPA government for its ''perpetual lies'' on the economic front during its near three years rule.

They, however, deplored that the government had chosen to paint a ''rosy picture'' on economic front in the President's Address to Parliament today while the ground situation presented a different picture, be it inflation, agrarian crisis and farmers' suicide, FDI in retail or other issues.

After the joint meeting of the Floor leaders of the CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP, the Left leaders said they would demand of the government to put a ban on forward trading on essential commodities and strengthening of the PDS to contain price rise.

At a joint press conference, CPI(M) Parliamentary group leader Sitaram Yechury and CPI Floor leader in the Lok Sabha, Gurudas Dasgupta said even the President in his 58-points speech said, ''However, in recent months, the rate of inflation has shown an upward trend.'' The Left parties said the government's ''faulty'' policy led to price rise and inflation and rejected its analysis that the increased liquidity, which was sign of prosperity, was ''mismatched'' with the supply front. ''This is absolutely rubbish.'' Mr Yechury, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member, said they would bring an amendment in SEZ Act focusing on changes in the law, the new rehabilitation policy, the land use pattern and ban on tax concessions to the corporate hosues.

On FDI in retail, referring to the impending tie up between the Wal-Mart and the Bharti Enterpises, the Left parties slammed the government for allowing ''back door entry and piece meal instalments in the field.'' ''We will also raise issues like the deteriorating communal situation and the increase in the missing children in various parts of the country, atrocities against dalits and the minorities,'' Mr Yechury added.

Mr Dasgupta remarked that the government policy document, as reflected in the President's Address, did not talk about how burgeoning unemployment and accentuating poverty could be tackled.

''We are extremely sad that the President's speech is an apology for price rise. The speech paints a rosy picture on agricultural front, while the fact remains that the production even this year has declined,'' Mr Dasgupta said.

The President's speech is like a progress report of the government, while the government's economic policies had led to increase in unemployment, closure of industrial units and attacks on the dalits have increased.

CPI(M) Floor leader in Lok Sabha Basudeb Acharia and Forward Bloc MP Dr Barun Mukherjee said the Left would also take up the issue of internal security and disinvestment of three power PSUs.

UNI