Government is taking all steps to contain inflation: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Apr 25 : Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha on Friday that every measure within the power of the government has been taken and would be taken to calm inflation being largely driven by high international commodity and food prices.

"You must be patient. We must take whatever steps have to be taken and I am confident that inflation will moderate over a period of time. Inflation as we said in the debate is largely driven by international prices of commodities and food," Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram also said that it is the duty of the State Governments to control the leakages in the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure easy availability of commodities.

"As far as the leakage in the PDS (Public Distribution System) system is concerned even at the risk of annoying a few members let me repast, the leakage in the PDS system is a matter that is totally under the control of the state government and they have to take the strongest action against ration system and those who pilfer from the ration shops and those who divert from ration shops," he said.

People said that the statistics and the data does not mean anything to them looking at the situation on the ground.

"There is no monetary policy in place, nothing is being controlled. They are making a fool of the common man," said Suresh, a government employee.

While the official data released on Friday revealed that the wholesale price index again accelerated to 7.33 percent in the week ending April 12, after having slightly fallen to 7.14 percent the previous week.

ANI