Clamp limit on stocks to curb price rise: Digvijay Singh

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh spoke to Zeenews.com`s Swati Chaturvedi in an exclusive chat on Kahiye Janab, on issues ranging from price rise to the Telangana controversy. Swati: The most important issue at present is that of price rise. Being an influential General Secretary of the Congress, please comment on the same. Digvijay Singh: It is certainly a matter of concern. There exists scarcity on the supply side. The deficiency in pulses due to global deficit is not being met and it is important for state governments to reduce the limit on stock holdings. Till the time they don’t take proper action against hoarding, the material that is in stock won’t come to the market. Swati: The last government exported rice. Sharad Pawar downplayed it calling it an ordinary thing. There was a rice scam when Kamal Nath was the Commerce Minister. He had accusations leveled against him. What is all this? Digvijay Singh: Sharad Pawar may have said it. As far as rice is concerned, it is available in good supply. There is no dearth of rice in India. The surplus we had, exceeded the demand. Some African nations had requested for it from the world community. The demand came via a mediator. The probe is on and the culprits will be brought to book soon. Swati: You had launched an agitation in UP against the Mayawati-led government. There are allegations on ministers that they are not bothered about the common man. Amidst all this, is the Congress as a party also angry with the present regime at the Centre? Digvijay Singh: Congress is not angry but worried. PM has agreed to all our suggestions. A few items were pulled out from futures trading like-wheat, rice, dal, vegetable oil and ginger. But despite that there was no impact on prices. The GDP is almost 8% and that’s why we must squeeze credit to create an impact on prices. The production of pulses must increase as also should the area under production. Since sugarcane is fetching a good rate, we are going to expand the area now. Besides, buffer stock of wheat and rice must be released so that automatically price of both decreases. Swati: In case you were the Union Agriculture Minister at this point, would you have toed Sharad Pawar’s line? Digvijay Singh: There must be a long-term strategy on pulse production like late PM Rajiv Gandhi had pursued. In case the state governments fail to take the required action against stockists, then the government must issue a directive stipulating the limit beyond which the stocks can’t be stored. This will ensure that the material reaches the markets on its own. The government has also imposed zero duty on items like dal and raw sugar. Meanwhile, the government is also trying to see how to reduce the profits of middlemen as far as possible so that the prices are also affected. Swati: Coming to the Telangana issue, KCR went on fast and the government nodded to his wish list. You have served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Is it so easy to divide a state? Digvijay Singh: This is a question of consensus. A resolution would need to be moved in the House by the state Chief Minister. Home Minister P Chidambaram will obviously not do that in the assembly on behalf of the Andhra government. Swati: A spate of resignations has followed the controversy. Jagan Mohan stood up with Chandrababu Naidu. What has been left of the Congress party discipline? Digvijay Singh: This is not the issue. Within a political party too there are dissenting voices. Among the parties who approved, are the ones who are back-tracking. Earlier these same parties namely TDP, CPM and PRP were exerting pressure on the Congress. What can the Congress party do? Swati: Are you personally in favour of bifurcation of states? Digvijay Singh: During my tenure as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, a resolution was moved to create the state of Chhattisgarh. This was done through unanimity. The States Reorganisation Commission must be established. I feel that the size of the state doesn’t matter as much as governance does. Among the newly created states, Uttarakhand has witnessed progress. Jharkhand is a small state but has faced political instability. An independent MLA became the CM and the rest is history. And Naxalism has only risen in Chhattisgrah after the division of Madhya Pradesh. Swati: There is a Red Corridor that exists in the heart of the country. And what is your government doing to curb Naxalism? How did this menace spread? Digvijay Singh: This is a very broad and comprehensive issue. An ordinary tribal has the concerns of jungle and land. Lack of proper governance, I think is what has given a push to Naxalism. The biggest mistake of CM Raman Singh’s government was to take the villages and reduce the tribals to the status of refugees. This was done to derive political benefits. Thus, the Naxals got a free hand on tribal land and villages. Swati: The mines are the wealth of the tribals. However, the government is clearing the proposals to big business houses. This is a big concern. Digvijay Singh: I agree with you. The Mining Regulation Act must be amended. A part of the royalty must be given to the family of those who lose land due to this. The Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana has introduced the land resettlement policy which is being implemented. He has also decided to give cash every year besides a part of the royalty amount. Sonia Gandhi has said that the Act of 1894 must be modified. When the matter was taken to the Cabinet, Mamata Banerjee voiced her disapproval. We are trying to convince her. Swati: After 17 years, the Liberhan Commission report has come. Has the Mandal-Kamandal politics has got a blow in India to some extent? Digvijay Singh: I can vote on the fact that the casteist regional parties that rose in the country won’t be successful for long. Citizens are realizing that these groups are selfish and will only promote their families. And my congratulations to the BJP for appointing Nitin Gadkari as party president. That man has not won even one election and by choosing him the BJP has only obliged us. Adapted by: Ritam Banati