New Delhi: A meeting of Congress Chief Ministers on Wednesday put the blame for rising inflation on the previous NDA Government.
The Chief Ministers said the NDA Government's order of February 2002 rescinding all control orders under the Essential Commodities Act should be reconsidered.
The meeting was chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi and attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saw the chief ministers requesting that
Sonia convened the meeting in the backdrop of Left parties announcing an agitation next week on the issue and main Opposition BJP also attacking the government.
Citing the difficulties caused by the Order to them, the Chief Ministers wanted that the states be empowered to intervene in case of hoarding of essential commodities.
The meeting also wanted forward trading in foodgrains and some other essential commodities to be "better regulated" in order to curb "excessive speculation".
Prime Minister assured them that his government would look into both the matters, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and AICC General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said after the two-hour long meeting.
Mukherjee, however, dismissed suggestions that the exercise initiated by Sonia meant isolation of the Prime Minister.
"Where is the question of isolation? A Prime Minister is a Prime Minister", he said.
Sonia advised the Chief Ministers to strengthen the Public Distribution System and to ensure that it functions effectively and provides essential commodities to the common man at reasonable rates.
The Chief Ministers assured her that they would monitor the price situation closely and take whatever steps found necessary.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who was subjected to sharp criticism at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on the issue last week, was also present at the meeting so also Political Secretary to Congress President Ahmed Patel.
Mukherjee brushed aside a question whether Gandhi was satisfied by the Government at the Centre and those in the states run by the party.
"It is not a question of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. She will have to respond to the situation", he said noting that Gandhi convened a CWC meeting, later held interaction with party Generalm Secretaries and now held a meeting of party Chief Ministers.
"These are correct steps," he added.
Responding to a question on the order issued by the NDA Government, he said the Chief Ministers could not take immediate action as the states have to seek prior permission of the Centre under the order on the Essential Commodities Act.
Dwivedi replied in the negative when asked whether there were any suggestions at the meet that the Food and Agriculture Ministries at the Centre should be kept by the Congress in view of their key role in making available foodgrains to the common man.
The Ministries are currently being held by NCP supreme Sharad Pawar, who was subjected to a veiled attack on the issue of wheat imports at the CWC meet.
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