Hyderabad, August 07: Opposition parties, including Telugu Desam Party(TDP), Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), today alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government was not taking any measures to control the prices of essential commodities, leaving the common people to suffer.
During the debate on price rise of essential commodities in the State Assembly, opposition TDP member M Narasimhulu claimed that the prices of essential commodities were increasing due to lack of Government’s commitment.
Mr Narasimhulu said though there was a severe drought during the TDP regimefor five years, the prices of essential commodities had not increased, as the TDP government had taken measures to control the prices.
Though the State government claimed that there were enough rains during the last five years and foodgrains production had increased, he did not understand the reason for skyrocketing of the prices in the State, he added.
He alleged that the Congress government was not taking any action against the millers, who were hoarding rice and other commodities, as the Congress party leaders had taken money from the millers before the 2009 elections.
The TDP leader further alleged that the State government had not taken steps to procure the commodities and store them in their possession but the goverment allowed the private business people to keep stocks with them and these merchants were creating artificial shortage of the commodities.
He asked the government to provide details of the stocks unearthed by the Vigilance Department during their raids in some of the districts. Paddy and rice worth crores of rupees was seized by the department and no one knew where it had gone, he added.
When the Member was making allegations against the Congress leaders, Deputy Speaker N Manohar asked the member not to make wild allegations without giving prior notice.
When the TDP members came to the house wearing garlands of the vegetables, protesting against the price rise of the essential commodities, the Deputy Speaker told them not to wear garlands with vegetables. As per the rules of the house, the members should not bring any item in the the house, he said, adding that it was the responsibility of every member to protect the rules of the house.
The TDP member said the people had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court on the price of Red Gram in the state, urging the court to do justice for them. The government should to set up a fund with Rs 1000 crore for market intervention to control the prices, he added.
—–Agencies