CPI(M), BJP slam UPA for price rise

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) On a day when Trinamool Congresssaid it was not consulted before the fuel price hike, theCPI(M) and BJP blamed the government''s policies for soaringcost of goods, even as Congress defended it saying the UPA wasfollowing the mechanism devised by the former NDA government.

Slamming the government over spiralling prices, CPI(M)leader Prakash Karat said, "It is allowing forward trading infood commodities. What is government doing on sugar, food,petro prices? The question is the culpable responsibility ofUPA government as far as price rise is concerned."

Trying to use Trinamool Congress'' reaction on the issueto its advantage, Karat said, "I am told that the TMC is alsointerested in fighting price rise. But, that should be done inthe government. They are in the government there (Centre)".

Signalling its annoyance, the TC said it would be betterif such issues were discussed among UPA members beforedecisions were taken.

BJP described the escalating prices in general as"failure of the economist Prime Minister" and the food andpetrol price hike as a "Congress conspiracy" against commonman, demanding action in both the areas.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that the doubledose of price hike in one month is "totally unjustified" andis nothing but "loot" of the common man by the government.

Defending the government''s decision, the Congress partysaid that the UPA was adopting the same mechanism devised bythe former NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Fuel prices are decided by a mechanism in which when theprices of petroleum products in the international market areup then the prices in India go up and when they are downglobally, they are less in India too," senior Congress leaderRajiv Shukla told reporters.

He said the UPA was only following the same pattern,method, formula devised by the NDA government on this issue.

Told that the TMC had reacted to the matter by sayingthat Mamata Banerjee was not consulted over the issue, Shuklaavoided a direct reply and targeted his reply on the BJPsaying, "How can you (opposition) say it was in the interestof the common man when you were ruling and today it is againsthis interest?".