Left slams Centre for price spiral

Slamming the Centre for indulging in blame game for price spiral, the Left said the government will have to make a policy shift to arrest the situation, which it termed as a fall-out of economic liberalisation.

"The government is not ready to accept its failure but only engaging in blame game. Do not make it an issue of ego. You will have to make a policy shift," CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said in the Rajya Sabha.

Alleging scandal in sugar prices, she said government's "manipulative policy" is responsible for it and demanded constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a white paper to "expose this and make someone accountable". She alleged that sugar mill owners profited hugely at the cost of farmers and consumers. Karat said the government is "infatuated with the market" and has left the the path of self-reliance on food production.

She accused it of "destroying" Public Distribution System, questioned the decision to lift ban on future trading of wheat "in a clandestine manner" and demanded its immediate halt.

Accusing the UPA of ignoring Parliament, she said the government decided to increase fertilser prices just a few days before the Budget session.

"If you respect Parliament, withdraw the rise in fertilser prices immediately," she said supporting the DMK stand in opposing the hike. Karat demanded that the government should categorically reject Kirit Parekh report on petroleum prices.