Nitish blames Centre for price hike

Patna, Apr 2 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today blamed the Centre for price hike in essential commodities and warned that UPA government would have to face the brunt of public anger in coming days.

While replying to the special debate on price rise of essential commodities in state assembly, Mr Kumar alleged that the UPA government had failed to take remedial measures in time, resulting into steep hike in edible items and manufacturing goods, bringing hardship to the masses.

''The responsibility to control the prices of commodities lies with the Centre as it is placed in Central list'', Mr Kumar said and added that state government had very limited role in this regard.

'' It is ironical that whenever Congress returns to power at the Centre, the prices of commodities take quantum jump and it is controlled only when the party is voted out of the power'', Mr Kumar noted and emphasised that current hike in prices of essential commodities would be checked once the Congress led UPA government at the Centre was rejected by the people in coming general election.

Quoting the related data, Mr Kumar said the price of essential commodities was more in Delhi and other Congress rules states than in Bihar.He dismissed the allegations levelled by the some members that price of the essential commodities was higher in Bihar than in other states due to hoardings.

UNI KKS/RL LS KP2249