Jaipur: As the Centre grapples with
unbridled rise in prices of essential commodities, the
Congress on Wednesday said states had an important role to play to
rein in inflation.
"The party has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
take best suitable steps, but support of state governments is
also very important to control price rise," AICC General
Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.
Noting that inflation was a serious issue, he said both
the Congress, which heads the UPA, and the Centre were equally
concerned.
"The issue is being discussed at different levels," he
said.
Elaborating on the role state governments could play to
check price rise, he said, "They should take appropriate
action against black marketing."
Dwivedi said that Congress always took action against
corruption and corrupt people.
"Congress is against corruption and has taken action
against the guilty -- be it a minister or chief minister, and
whoever is found guilty will be punished in future also," he
said.
The government has been under attack for not being able
to bring down prices, especially of food items. The food
inflation, 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 the
week ended December 25.
The Prime Minister held consultations with his senior
Cabinet colleagues yesterday on the issue while Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee today met Food and Agriculture
Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman
Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 21:13