Opposition NDA cites Sonia's statement to justify price hike issue

Ranchi, Mar 8 (UNI) The NDA-led Oppositon in Jharkhand today bounced back on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to justify the debate on price hike of essential commodities.

As the House witnessed rows of allegations from the the Opposition triggered by short hour notice raised by Mr Chandreswar Prasad (BJP), former Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari (JD-U) referred to Ms Gandhi's reported acknowledgement that price hike cost the Congress' prospect in Punjab and Uttarkhand polls dearly.

The Opposition urged the government to take urgent measures to curb the trend.

Food and Public Distribution Minister Kamlesh Kumar Sinha admitted that about 15 to 20 per cent hike was witnessed in almost all commodities towards end of last year adding the Centre must shoulder responsibility to control prices.

However, with the reduction of price of petrol and diesel, the cost got reduced, the minister claimed.

Miffed at Mr Sinha's reply, the Opposition started raising slogans and proceeded to the well of the House.

Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda said the government should not make fun of such a grave situation in which life of poor was concerned.

He said what the government had done to protect the poor in the wake of inflation remained to be seen.

The treasury bench also stood up to defend the government leading to acrimony in the House.

At that the former Speaker referred to the UPA chairperson's admission after party's poll debacles in the two state adding without unnecessary allegation and counter-allegation the government should rather concerate on policy to tide over the problem.

Speaker Alamgir Alam said the House should raise more issues concerning people.

UNI