CHENNAI: The Assembly on Wednesday witnessed a fierce debate between the Left parties and ministers over the rise in prices of essential commodities.
Speaking on motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, CPI(M) Floor Leader K Bala Bharati said the vegetable prices soared affecting the common man. “The prices of palmolein and toor dal are also going up. A tomato now costs Rs 3 and drumstick Rs 15,” he said
Intervening, Finance Minister K Anbazhagan wanted to know which kind of capitalist influence should be curbed to bring down prices. “If the Marxists could tell us, it would be a service,” he said. Resuming, Bharati said the Centre allowed futures trading, besides the export of onion that led to the price rise.
At this remark, Congress whip Peter Alphonse said the Left parties protested, whether the exports were banned or not. “If exports are banned, they protest citing price rise. If not, they agitate claiming that farmers did not get the right price for their produce.” Alphonse said the farmers in Maharashtra had staged a protest seeking nod for onion exports as their produce did not fetch good prices in the domestic market. “It would be better if she could share with us the steps taken by the West Bengal government to control price rise,” he added.
Replying, Bala Bharati said the Congress member was trying to trivialise the working class with such comments. “The question is what kind of effort the State has taken to curb the price rise, and this is not mentioned in the Governor’s address.” Food Minister E V Velu retorted that the government had been giving essential commodities, including cooking oil and dal, at subsidised rates through PDS outlets. Information regarding the efforts made had been detailed in the Governor’s address.
“I agree that your government has been providing rice at Rs 1. But, as food minister why are you unable to bring down prices in the private shop next to the PDS outlet,” asked Bharati. Seeking to turn the table on the Marxist member, the minister said she was not speaking for the poor, but for those who went to supermarkets.
CPI member V Sivapunniyam wanted to know the efforts made to curb hoarding of commodities and halt futures trading. He found fault with the Centre for flawed economic policies. While Higher Education Minister Ponmudy said people’s income levels had gone up and not just the prices, Peter Alphonse said the Left parties were trying to politicise the issue.