Patna, (Bihar Times): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on
Wednesday made full use of the situation emerging
after the sharp rise in prices of essential
commoddites to corner the United Progressive Alliance
government at the Centre.
Replying to a two-hour special debate on skyrocketing
price of essential commodities on the last day of the
Budget Session of Bihar assembly he charged the Centre
with failing to take immediate remedial measures to
check the price rise.
As his speech came amidst walk-out by the Opposition
parties Nitish said price rise of essential
commodities must be embarrassing for them, therefore,
they did not have the courage to listen to logic or
truth behind the causes of price rise.
Highlighting his government achievements in checking
the price rise he said while the prices of mustard oil
in Bihar was Rs 75 a kg on March 28 the same was being
sold in New Delhi at Rs 87 a kg on March 13 this year.
In the same way, pulses were available in Bihar
markets at Rs 35 to Rs 39 a kg and the same was being
sold at Rs 42 a kg in the national capital.
He minced no word to say that prices of essential
coimmodities have soared whenever the Centre was ruled
by the Congress or there was a coalition government
headed by the Congress.
He said the Centre was creating a situation where it
would get an excuse to import foodgrains at higher
prices. In this regard he quoted RBI governor’s
report. He doubts the country would be able to achieve
the growth rate due to inflation and due to this poor
states like Bihar would suffer. Nitish said that Union
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was more interested
in cricket than agriculture and urged him to pay more
interest in his ministry.
Earlier, the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Shakeel
Ahmad Khan, accused the BJP of patronizing hoarders,
which was ultimately causing spurt in prices of
essential commodities. Other opposition leaders
pooh-poohed the chief minister’s claim that the price
of edible oils and pulses are less in Bihar because of
his government’s effort. They said that prices of
several essential commodities in Delhi, being a big
city, was always higher than Bihar, therefore, it had
nothing to do with the Nitish government’s measures.
