Sharad Yadav blames UPA govt for inflation

Guwahati, May 28 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav today blamed the ''wrong policies'' of the UPA government for the record inflation, stating that the Centre's focus on the private sector had shaken the very foundations of the country's agrarian society.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Yadav said, ''The UPA government has authorised the private sector to run the retail market, leading to reduction of buffer stock and this unprecedented price rise. Retailing has curbed the source of income for the peasants.'' Blaming the government for farmer suicides, he said, ''The present scenario of the agricultural sector has worsened, with setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the agricultural hubs of the country.'' He also underlined that the rich natural resources in the North East remained untapped, adding that the proper utilisation of the vast water resources in the region could be used to meet 60-70 per cent of power requirement in the country.

Mr Yadav also stressed the need to bring back the militants to the mainstream for the NE to progress.

Slamming the government for christening the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Shillong as Rajiv Gandhi IIM , he said it would sent out wrong signals regarding the educational standards of the institute.

He demanded a probe into the alleged sub-standard functioning of a national-level hospital like the NEGRIMS in Shillong.

Speaking about his party's manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha election, he claimed that the NDA will come to power and the JD(U) will emerge as the second largest party in the alliance.

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