Govt to down prices if it gets products at reduced rate:karunanidhi

Chennai, Sep 17 (UNI) Disputing the claim made by leaders of some political parties that the pack of ten items of condiments offered by the government to be sold at Rs 50 in fair price shops, was available at a lesser rate, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said the government was willing to bring down the price, if it could get the products at a reduced rate.

In a statement here, Mr Karunanidhi, who had announced the scheme, which would come into effect from October two, in a bid to check the rise in prices of these commodities, said the government had announced the scheme to benefit the people of the state and help them save Rs 17, as these products in the open market were sold at atleast Rs 67.

Referring to the claim made by leaders of some political parties that these products were available at the rate of Rs 47 in Madurai, Mr Karunanidhi said enquiries with different shops both in the city and Madurai, reveleaed that the products sold above Rs 60 and upto Rs 93.

He said if the products were available at the rate of Rs 47, it was a victory for the efforts taken by the government to bring down the prices in the open market.

Stating that the government has proposed to procure these products through tender process, he said if the government could get the products at a cheaper rate, the government would consider making changes in the price.

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