Agriculture crisis has turned into food crisis in India: CPI(M)

Port Blair, Apr 27 (UNI) CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said ''agricultural crisis'' has led to food crisis in the country, which is the main reason for inflation.

Speaking at a public meeting here today, Mr Karat pointed out that India has since last year imported wheat as the country's production has gone down drastically.

''Agriculture is in a very bad shape due to flawed schemes of the UPA government,'' Mr Karat said.

Mr Karat was here to inaugurate Andaman's CPI (M) party building.

He said the CPI(M) has already suggested various measures to check prices, including strengthening the Public Distribution System by universalising it and removing the cuts in supply of food grains to States under the PDS and inclusion of 15 essential items such as pulses, edible oil and sugar in the PDS.

''There has been huge deduction in supply of food grains to the states by the Centre, disturbing the Public Distribution System,'' Mr Karat claimed.

The Centre is presently battling to curb inflation before the general elections slated for May next year, he remarked.

''Inflation in India has doubled in the last four months, fueled by a global spurt in food and oil pricesm,'' he noted and added, ''The Left parties wanted curbs imposed on procurement of food grains from farmers by private companies and traders and a ban on forward and future trading in 25 essential commodities as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.'' UNI SKR LL Mir GC2035