Replying to a short-duration discussion on price rise in the Rajya Sabha, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government has taken various steps to boost the availability of pulses and expressed hope that the prices would come down in two years. He also asked state governments to lift subsidised pulses from the buffer stock for sale at a reasonable price to consumers, besides importing pulses and further subsidising the grains supplied by the Centre under the food law.
“Barring pulses, prices have not increased in any (essential food) item,” Paswan said, while offering States to lift any quantity of tur and urad dal from buffer stock at respective rates of Rs 66 and Rs 82 per kg.
As Paswan reeled out the current and a year-ago prices of various food items, Rajeev Shukla (Cong) challenged his figures demanding that the Minister should authenticate and table the data he was reading out as “there was a massive difference between what you are saying and the market price”. Paswan retorted by saying “if I am saying something wrong, bring a privilege motion against me. I am not talking as Ram Vilas Paswan but as a Food Minister of the government.”
The debate also saw Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad telling Paswan that “there is no item whose price has not increased. What are you saying? ... A privilege motion can be brought.”
When Paswan sought to justify saying it was only “a small increase” for some items, Congress members walked out of the House in protest.
Observing that it was not only the Centre’s responsibility to tackle food inflation, Paswan said the state governments would also have to take responsibility. “State governments should cooperate with the Centre and take action against hoarders,” the minister said. Paswan blamed “hoarding and supply chain” for the price hike but said the Centre has “no institution” to take action against hoarders and black marketeers.
While rise in onion and potato prices was “seasonal” despite good production, that of sugar was necessary for clearing huge arrears to sugarcane farmers, he said.
The Opposition had earlier joined hands to take on the NDA government over the issue of price rise, with some accusing it of “fudging” numbers and calculations on inflation to suit itself.
Paswan highlighted the steps taken by the government to control pulses prices such as ban on future trading, buffer stocks of 20 lakh tonne, imposition of stockholding limits, sharp increase in support prices to farmers and entering into agreement with Mozambique for importing pulses. He said there was a shortfall of 76 lakh tonnes in pulses demand and supply. “Prices will rise if there is a gap in demand and supply”.
Private traders are importing about 58-60 lakh tonnes to bridge this gap, he said, adding that there is a need to encourage farmers to grow more pulses.
“We have imposed stock holding limits on pulses. Barring 2-3 states all are implementing. 1.34 lakh of pulses stocks have been seized. The central government can only give permission to take action against hoarders,” Paswan said.
No plans to dilute Lokpal Act: Govt
The government on Wednesday rejected criticism that the amendment brought by it in the Lok Sabha to extend the deadline of July 31 for declaration of assets by NGOs receiving government funds and Central government employees was aimed at “diluting” the transparency law. Briefing reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar also said the amendment bill was brought after consulting all political parties.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha approved the amendment pertaining to the Section 44 of the Lokpal Act dealing with declaration of assets.
“...there is no dilution, there is no intention to dilute the act (Lokpal Act). It is crystal clear. The matter has been brought according to sense of the house,” Kumar said. The amendment comes amid criticism that the government was diluting the transparency law by classifying NGO officials as public servants.