PM says Govt. determined to contain inflation; Left miffed

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) Allaying apprehensions over the continuing rise in the prices of essential commodities, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured the Left parties that the government was taking all necessary steps to contain inflation and warned that ''scare mongering'' by some parties would only create an environment of scarcity, encouraging speculators and hoarders.

Taking strong exception to the Prime Minister's Office accusing the political parties of politicising the misery of the people due to price rise of essential commodities, the Left parties deplored that '' most insulting'' remarks had been made against them and the UPA government would have to pay a heavy political price for not containing inflation.

The PMO issued a one-page statement soon after a high-level delegation of the Left parties, led by Mr Prakash Karat and Mr A B Bardhan met Dr Singh to place before him a six-point charter of demands to curb spiralling price rise.

While CPI General Secretary Mr Bardhan told reporters that they had not indulged in scare-mongering as alleged by the PMO, CPI-M Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said it is unfortunate that the PMO had resorted to such an exercise when the Left parties had suggested concrete measures to bring down prices of essential commodities which had gone through the roof.

According to the statement, Dr Singh appealed to all political parties to eschew the temptation of ''politicising the misery of the people'' and warned against creating an environment of scarcity which would only encourage speculators and hoarders.

''The government is taking all necessary steps to deal with the problem and there is no need for political parties to indulge in scare mongering,'' the PM said.

Mr Bardhan pointed out ... picking up from para 6, line one of DI26, PM-LEFT-THIRD LEAD PRICE RISE.

UNI Team RP HT2017