States should support Centre to check inflation: Cong

Jaipur, Jan 12 (PTI) As the Centre grapples withunbridled rise in prices of essential commodities, theCongress today said states had an important role to play torein in inflation.

"The party has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh totake best suitable steps, but support of state governments isalso very important to control price rise," AICC GeneralSecretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.

Noting that inflation was a serious issue, he said boththe Congress, which heads the UPA, and the Centre were equallyconcerned.

"The issue is being discussed at different levels," hesaid.

Elaborating on the role state governments could play tocheck price rise, he said, "They should take appropriateaction against black marketing."

Dwivedi said that Congress always took action againstcorruption and corrupt people.

"Congress is against corruption and has taken actionagainst the guilty -- be it a minister or chief minister, andwhoever is found guilty will be punished in future also," hesaid.

The government has been under attack for not being ableto bring down prices, especially of food items. The foodinflation, fuelled by rising prices of vegetables, fruits,meat and egg has crossed 18 per cent.

Driven by spurt in onion prices and other vegetables,food inflation soared to year''s high of 18.32 per cent for theweek ended December 25.

The Prime Minister held consultations with his seniorCabinet colleagues yesterday on the issue while FinanceMinister Pranab Mukherjee today met Food and AgricultureMinister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy ChairmanMontek Singh Ahluwalia.