MPs raise concern over rising prices

Members in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday expressed concern over rising prices of essential commodities with Left members accusing the Government of failing to check inflation despite repeated assurances.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Gurudas Das Gupta (CPI) said prices of pulses had crossed Rs 50 per kg and that of potato Rs 15 per kg and edible oil Rs 60 a litre.

He said that there had been an unprecedented price rise for more than a year and despite Finance Minister P Chidambaram's assurance that the Government would take all steps to tackle inflation, things have not helped.

Members belonging to the Left, the Samajwadi Party and the BJP supported him.

Das Gupta said the poor had been hit hard. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee promised a discussion on the matter observing the entire House wanted it.