Paswan blames prices for poll debacle

Gwalior, Mar 2 (UNI) Expressing concern over spiralling prices, Union Fertiliser Minister and Lok Jan Shakti Party President Ram Vilas Paswan today said that was the reason for the Congress drubbing in the Punjab and Uttarakhand hustings.

''However, the Union Budget for 2007-08 has no link with prices that are entirely reliant on demand and supply. The Union Agriculture and Finance ministries should devise a strategy to combat inflation,'' he told journalists in this citadel town. The Minister was here to drum up support for party nominee Phool Singh Baraiya ahead of the Gwalior parliamentary constituency bypoll.

Blaming the paucity of fertiliser on ''mismanagement'' by states, the Minister alleged that not a single state allotted the full quota, received from the Centre, to farmers.

''Until February, 73,000 tonnes urea and 77,000 tonnes DAP were 'surplus' in Madhya Pradesh alone. States have been told to gather fertiliser demand-linked data at block level instead of district level. The distribution system should go online,'' he added.

A proposal was sent by his ministry to the Union Cabinet for restarting manufacturing units shut down during National Democratic Alliance regime, Mr Paswan said.

UNI