New Delhi: The Congress party is all set to raise the matter of rising inflation across the country in the forthcoming parliament session. Congress' senior leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram slammed the government Tuesday saying that the issue of high inflation will not go away if the Center pretends it doesn't exist. Addressing a press conference, Chidambaram said, "The NDA government has continued to pretend that the concern about price rise is a false concern and if the government ignores the issue, the issue will go away. Congress party condemns the callous negligence of the government on the issue of price rise."
He quoted the National Statistical Office's press release which had claimed that the consumer price inflation has breached the upper limit of 6 percent reaching 6.26 percent, while the core inflation has moved up in a month from 5.5% to 5.8%. Chidambaram further asserted that the food inflation is at 5.58 percent, pulses inflation is at 10.01 percent, fruits inflation is at 11.82 percent, transport inflation is at 11.56 percent, fuel and light inflation is at 12.68 percent, and oils and fats inflation is at 34.78 percent.
"The pandemic is reaching across the country which has resulted in jobs being axed, unemployment rising to 8.1% and incomes being cut for millions of working people. In such a situation of widespread distressed inflation has broken the back of the people and the hold the central government under Shri Narendra Modi directly responsible for the high inflation," the Congress leader said.
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He further added, "This inflation has not been caused by a spurt in demand. On the contrary, private consumer demand is low. This inflation has not been caused by excess liquidity or too much money in the hands of people. This inflation has been caused by the wrong policies of Government and its inept management of the economy." Calling the move of adding cesses on fuel prices an "exploitation" and "greed of the worst kind", Chidambaram alleged that the Central Government is earning approximately Rs 4.2 lakh crore every year through these cesses.
Congress demanded that the central government should immediately reduce substantially the prices of petrol diesel and LPG, and also to review and reset the import duties so that prices of essential imported goods can be cheaper. Chidambaram also took a dig at the Central Government, when he was being asked about the Cabinet reshuffle in which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman continued with her portfolio, by saying, "Everyone knows that all decisions are being taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 'he is the Defence Minister, is finance minister, is external affairs minister,' so does it matter if 'X' or 'Y' is Finance Minister? It will be inconsequence."
However, he praised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari by saying that he has the "courage" to speak over such matters. "I think only Mr. Gadkari dares to speak over such matters. But I think he should increase the volume of his microphone and speak loudly in the Union Cabinet, he should unmute himself," Chidambaram said.
Recently, Gadkari had said that due to the rising petrol and diesel prices, people are 'agitating', while suggesting that the use of alternate fuel will help to calm them down.
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