New Delhi: Congress veteran and former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday slammed the ruling government over the hike in the prices of petrol, LPG and pulses, calling the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government “directly responsible for high inflation”. .
He said that the Congress party will raise the issue of inflation in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
Continuing his outrage, the Congress leader alleged that the Center is “pretending” that the price hike is a “false concern”.
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Expressing concern over the high rate of unemployment and wage cuts in the country, Chidambaram said: “In such a situation of widespread crisis, inflation has broken the back of the people, and we are going to direct the Narendra Modi-led central government for higher hold responsible. Inflation. “
Emphasizing on reducing fuel prices and GST rates, Chidambaram sought a review of import duty to reduce the burden of high inflation.
Chidambaram said the Center has consistently increased the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG despite “strong opposition”.
“None of these prices are justified by the price of crude oil which is around $75 a barrel. When the price of crude oil was $125, the UPA government was able to provide petrol at Rs 65 per liter and diesel at Rs 44 per litre. .
Criticizing the Center for raising import duty on several items despite the “depreciation in rupee”, the former finance minister called the Goods and Services Tax (GST) a “regressive tax” with “irrational” rates.
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Pointing out that inflation was not due to increase in demand or liquidity, but due to “wrong policies of the government and inefficient management of the economy”, Chidambaram asked: “Will the government kindly tell people what they should eat. How should they light their homes and how should they go to work?”
“I caution the government: the issue of high inflation won’t go away if you pretend it doesn’t exist,” he said.
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