BJP will bring down prices if it comes to power: Munde

Mumbai, Apr 11 (UNI) BJP General Secretary Gopinath Munde today said his party will bring down the prices of essential commodities once it returns to power in the state and at the Centre.

Speaking at a protest rally against inflation organised by Mumbai BJP, Mr Munde said the prices of essential commodities were under control when the NDA government was at the Centre and the Shiv Sena-BJP government was in the state. ''We will bring the prices down again, once our party comes to power,'' he promised.

''We had controlled inflation to a large extent, but it has doubled during the UPA government's four-year rule,'' Mr Munde said.

Over 50 per cent of the protesters in the rally were women, who were led by Poonam Mahajan, daughter of slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, fashion designer Shaina N C, Maharashtra BJP General Secretary and TV actress Smriti Irani.

Ms Mahajan, Ms Shaina and Ms Irani led the gathering in raising slogans against the government. They said rising prices of essential commodities had made it difficult for common people to make ends meet.

The BJP leaders had adopted a novel way of protesting against the inflation and were seen wearing garlands made of vegetables.

Meanwhile, Mr Munde said the BJP will oppose the state government's decision to provide houses with an area of 269 sq ft to slum dwellers under the SRA scheme. ''We will not accept houses with area less than 400 sq ft,'' he said.

Maharashtra BJP President Nitin Gadkari remarked, ''Mr Vajpayee's NDA government fell when the cost of onions increased and now this government will fall as everything has become costly.'' He further alleged the state government is favouring the builders lobby in the state and is against the poor.

Mr Munde and Mr Gadkari also criticised Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar for failing to control the spiralling prices of essential commodities.

UNI JN NM PY RN1947