Price rise to dominate Parliament tomorrow also

New Delhi, Apr 15 (UNI) Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament may continue to be stalled for tomorrow also on the issue of price rise for which the Opposition BJP has called for an adjournment motion.

The party which will decide its final strategy at its Parliamentary Party meeting tomorrow morning, however, gave ample testimony today that it would vociferously demand a debate on the spiralling price rise issue in Lok Sabha tomorrow, even as the issue was listed for debate under rule 193 today.

BJP Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Vijay Kumar Malhotra told newspersons that inflation and price rise issues not only needed to be discussed but also voted in Parliament. "This is one reason that we have given adjournment notice under rule 184, which entails voting.'' He however remained non-commital whether the party would also allow Parliament run normally tomorrow. "Our parliamentary party is meeting tomorrow where we will decide our strategy," he said.

Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were stalled today by members from the opposition NDA, UPA supporting Left parties and the UNPA grouping over the price rise issue.

Briefing newspersons, Mr Malhotra demanded that the government should come out with a white paper on the price rise as, UPA had utterly failed to check the price line.

He said the government in fact was confused, at the rising trend of prices of essential commodities. He said the ministers were making contradictory statements. While Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal was on record to say that the Government didnot have a 'magic wand' to control the prices, another minister ascribed the prise rise to the change in food habits of the people, he said, wondering if change of eating habbits ever led to shortage of food.

The BJP leader also pointed towards the differences between Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath over the issue.

Referring to the wholesale price index based inflationrate had touched 7.41 per cent, highest in last three years, the Consumer Price Index was much more high and the commoman had to shall out about 40 per cent more on his daily meal, he said.

Mr Malhotra also attempted to chide UPA president Sonia Gandhi for having confined herself to just writing letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing her concern over the price rise and the Prime Minister and Finance Minister were merely talking about tough measures.

He said the issue was discussed in the House but in the past one year the Government had assured that it was taking steps to control the rise of prices of various commodities but no visible impact could be seen.

"The government in fact has lost the moral right to continue in office when UPA supporting parties, Left Front, is also protesting over the government's failure to check the price rise," he added.

UNI KAS SP AS1821