Raipur: Adopting a novel way to protest
spiralling prices of essential commodities, Chhattisgarh Chief
Minister Raman Singh today drove 12 kms on a cycle to reach
the Assembly.
The Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and BJP
MLAs gathered at Tourism Minister Brijmohan Agrawal's
residence this morning and set on cycles to reach the Assembly
for discussion on ensuing Budget session.
"This is a symbolic protest. The Centre must take
concrete steps to control price rise," Singh said.
"The Centre is trying to shift the blame for rise in
prices of essential commodities like, rice, dal, wheat, sugar
on the states. However, wrong policies of the Centre have led
to skyrocketing prices," he said.
He also said that it is not the states that decide
fuel prices, which too are expected to increase.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Choubey, Leader of Opposition in
the House, said that instead of such 'political stunts', the
BJP Government should reduce the expenditure on official cars
being used by the Ministers.
"Travelling on cycles is all political stunt. The
State Government has failed to control hoarding (of items)
which has led to rise in prices," the Congress leader said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 15, 2010, 23:21