Inflation: State blames Centre, TMC blames state

Express news service Posted: Mar 28, 2008 at 0057 hrs
Kolkata, March 27 The debate over the rising prices of essential commodities at the state Assembly today became a perfect occasion for the different political parties to take on their rivals.

The issue came up for a discussion after RSP MLA Jane Alam Mian and Trinamool MLA Partha Chatterjee moved separate notices for it.

Participating in the debate, State agriculture minister Naren De held the Centre responsible for the inflation and charged the UPA government of lacking political will to curb it. Terming the issue as national problem, De said that the Centre lacks a vision for running the country.

On the other hand, Left’s bete noire Trinamool Congress blamed the state government for not taking action against black marketing.

The Congress defended the Centre’s measures and joined Trinamool in asking the government to take steps for checking price hike by coming down heavily against black marketing.

But when it came to voting on Trinamool’s motion, the Congress abstained thereby defeating it. Later, when the second motion moved by the RSP was taken up for vote, the Trinamool abstained and interestingly Congress participated. The House passed the second motion.

Chatterjee later told the mediapersons that the Centre and the state governments are playing a blame game.