Cong wants CMs, FMs meet; stern steps to check inflation

New Delhi, Jun 20 (UNI) Expressing concern over inflation touching a 13-year-high of 11.05 per cent, the Congress today demanded that the Centre convene a meeting of chief ministers and state finance ministers to take strong measures to check rising prices of essential commodities affecting the common man.

''The Government can sacrifice growth to some extent to check inflation in order to help the common man,'' Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.

He said the meeting could take up the issue of reducing sales tax on petroleum products and other commodities.

Mr Ahmed said an all-party meet to discuss the inflation can also take place as demanded by the main Opposition BJP.

He said the rising inflation was the result of increase in the prices of crude oil, edible oil and pulses in the international market.

''The Government has already taken some fiscal, monetary and administrative measures to contain inflation. Had these steps not taken, inflation would have been much higher,'' he added.

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