PM's statement on inflation unfortunate: Raghu Thakur

Raipur, May 22 (UNI) Describing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that inflation cannot be controlled as ''unfortunate'', Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) President Raghu Thakur today suggested that to curb the rising prices a ''fixed price policy'' should be adopted.

Mr Thakur told UNI here that Mr Singh's statement would encourage hoarders and blackmarketeers and the price rise could not be tamed by curtailing excise duty and other taxes.

The policy of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohiya, in which he suggested that there should not be more than 50 per cent of difference between production cost and market value, should be adopted, the LSP president said.

''For example, if production cost is Re one, then market value should not exceed Rs 1.50,'' he said.

Referring a Parliament committee, he said pharmaceuticals companies were extorting more than 1000 per cent from their production cost.

''The same condition has been prevailing in other sectors as well, hence, it is necessary to control industrialists,'' Mr Thakur added.

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