Failure to control price hike; Congress for agitation

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 18 (UNI) Accusing the Left Democratic Front Government in Kerala of failing to control the spiralling prices of essential commodities, the Congress today said the government, was blaming the Centre in this regard despite the latter taking steps.

''The CPI(M)-led LDF government is blaming inflation as the cause of price hike. But the Government is deviating from the actual facts. It has not done anything to control the prices,'' Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here after the Party's executive meeting.

The Centre had brought down the inflation rate and banned the export of certain materials, helping to control price hike. But the state government had not done anything on its part to bring down the prices, he said.

When there was inflation during the previous BJP-led government at the Centre, the then Congress government in the state had taken effective measures, which had led to controlling the prices of essential commodities, Mr Chennithala claimed.

In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the prices of essential commodities were low when compared to Kerala, he said, adding that the Congress would organise ''Dharnas'' in all the Panchayats on May 3 against this.

Mr Chennithala said the government had failed to fulfill its promise to the Kuttanad farmers. It had failed to disburse the compensation that was promised and also to procure the sprouted paddy. '' The government has failed in crisis management,'' he said.

Stating that the law and order situation had deteriorated in the state, he said Kasargode district had seen four murders in the last few days and the police had failed to restore peace in the region.

He said the Congress would organise a ''Satyagraha'' in the district on April 22. Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy and himself would participate in the Satyagraha.

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