Congress and inflation wedded together: Nitish Kumar

Patna, Aug 1 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said the price rise has been a bane of the Congress party, adding that both Congress and inflation are wedded together.

"It is very strange that from the time when we came to our proper sense we are seeing the same thing. It's been a long time. Whenever the Congress party came to power it brought inflation and when it goes it takes away inflation also," said Kumar.

"Congress and inflation are wedded together. So, they should either control price rise or leave the citizens of the nation," he added.

The Congress party -led federal government had raised petrol and diesel prices in June, as part of a plan to move towards a market-determined fuel price regime.

The government raised the price of petrol by rupees 3.73 and diesel by rupees 2 per litre, leading to widespread protests across the country. The surge in fuel rates has shot the prices of vegetables and other edible commodities.

On tackling the Maoist rebels, Nitish Kumar doubted Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement that the menace will be contained in three years.

"Whatever he said is clear enough, he has given explanation as well. It is very serious matter and mere talks cannot solve it. Some days back when the Prime Minister called a meeting of all the Maoist-affected States, there we gave our views on it," said Kumar.

Earlier on June 25, a ministerial panel headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had lifted the pricing controls on petroleum following which the price of petrol went up by Rs 3.50 a litre.

The Government hiked the prices of diesel by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder. (ANI)