Inflation: Dasmunsi slams communists, says Bardhan has no policy

New Delhi, Jun 21 (UNI) Asserting that rising inflation would not affect the UPA's poll prospects, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi has slammed the communists for criticising the Government over the rise in inflation and challenged them to come out with an alternative formula to bring it down.

''They never tried to manage any affair. They can't provide any alternative formula,'' the Minister said participating in the Devil's Advocate programme of the CNN-IBN channel to be broadcast tomorrow night.

His remarks came when asked to comment on CPI leader A B Bardhan's demand for resignation of Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

''Bardhan has no policy, no objectives,'' he said.

Underlining that controlling inflation was a critical management, the Minister expressed the confidence that people of the country would vote for the UPA as they were sensible and would understand the government's compulsions if they assessed the world situation.

He said the current inflation was the direct cause of the sharp rise in international old prices, and it was not confined to India alone, as countries like China too were facing this problem.

Mr Dasmunsi expressed the hope that the prices would come down if the Kharif crop was good this year.

He strongly disputed the contention of the interviewer that the UPA government did not take any preventive measure, saying that no one could predict inflation.

Mr Dasmunsi disagreed with the suggestion that the rise in fuel prices and the resulting sharp rise in inflation had given a lifeline to the Opposition BJP, saying the UPA's economic management was good enough to give that opportunity to the Opposition.

''Our government will leave most viable economy in Asia,'' he said.

The government stood firm in its policies, and was taking all steps in the best interest of the country with the full support of its allies, the minister added.

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