New Delhi: As inflation hit double digit, a
defensive Congress sought to blame state governments,
particularly those ruled by opposition parties, alleging not
enough was not being done by them to check black marketing and
hoarding.
"We are very concerned that inflation has gone up.
Government has taken several steps to fight inflation,
particularly food inflation," party spokesperson Jayanthi
Natarajan said.
She said the steps the government has taken include
strengthening the public distribution system, cracking down
on black marketeers and hoarders and providing food to
vulnerable sections through schemes like the Antodaya.
Asked why was`t inflation coming down despite the steps,
Natarajan sought to shift the blame on state governments,
particularly those ruled by opposition parties saying enough
was not being done to check black marketing and hoarding by
them.
"Crackdown is not happening against hoarders and black
marketeers in many states. States ruled by opposition parties
were not registering cases and making arrests in this
regard," she alleged.
The spokesperson said there was a big difference in the
wholesale price index and the retail price index, pointing to
the role of middlemen in price rise and highlighted the need
to crackdown on them.
Asked whether the proposed fuel price hike will further
lead to price spiral, she said the party was not aware of any
such hike and will comment on it when it happens.
PTI
