After aam aadmi, now UPA govt sheds onion-tears

New Delhi, Jan 11: It was a bad start to the UPA government this new year. With spiralling food prices, host of corruption and scams, the UPA believes in tackling one problem at a time.

For this very purpose, key ministers in the UPA government have got into a huddle to discuss on how best to handle the insane food inflation levels. A high-level meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahuwalia on Tuesday, Jan 11.

"In general, all these issues (food prices and allowing export of agri-items) may be discussed in the meeting. I will myself try to raise all these issues because there has to be a collective view," Sharad Pawar has been quoted as saying. Pawar faced the major flak across parties for failing to curb the rising food prices in his capacity as Agriculture Minister.

Food inflation has seen a hike of 18.32 pct with prices of onions, tomatoes and other essential commodities hitting the roof. The fluctuating prices of onions has been a cause of heart ache for the aam aadmi. The ban of onion imports from Pakistan that was later revoked has been one of the reason for the wavering price. Cases of hoarding by onion traders were also widespread with the common man facing the brunt of it all.

OneIndia News