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Poor will be protected against price rise: PM
New
Delhi,
Nov
17:
Acknowledging
the
concerns
over
the
rise
in
prices
of
some
essential
commodities,
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
today
assured
the
people
that
the
government
would
ensure
availability
of
food
items
at
a
''reasonable
cost''
to
the
poor.
''I
am
aware
that
many
of
you
are
concerned
about
the
prices
of
certain
essential
commodities.
It
will
be
our
constant
endeavour
to
ensure
that
essential
food
items
are
available
to
the
poor
and
needy
at
a
reasonable
cost,''
Dr
Singh
said
in
his
half-an-hour
address
delivered
in
Hindi
to
the
AICC
session.
The Prime Minister said the government had managed to keep inflation under control in the face of many difficulties, including the galloping crude prices which had reached almost 100 dollars a barrel, up from about 35 dollars since 2004.
Also, the global prices of foodgrains, pulses and edible oil had seen a sharp rise. ''However, it has been our endeavour to shield our poor and vulnerable sections from the effects of this rise and we have been quite successful in this regard. The wholesale price index is rising by around 3-4 per cent which is the lowest in the last 20 years,'' he said.
Dr Singh focussed his address mainly on the developmental programmes of his government and listed the pro-poor schemes launched by the UPA.
On the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal, he said the averment that the agreement was against India's security interests was a false propaganda. The deal was part of effort to open closed doors so that India could obtain nuclear fuel and technology from the US, Russia, France and other countries and remove the shortage of electricity. ''You need to understand this reality and explain it to our people,'' he asked the party workers.
The 15-point programme for the minorities, launched in the light of the Justice Rajinder Sachar committee report, would improve their lot, he said.
He concluded his address, expressing confidence that young party leaders like Mr Rahul Gandhi ''can truly fulfil the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.''
UNI
