Sir,
I am interested to know from the Government of India the steps it is
going to take in connection with the price rise which has taken place. We, as a
partner of the UPA Government, would urge the Government that since the price
rise is causing tremendous difficulties to the common people, this issue has to
be tackled very firmly, considering the position of the common man. We also
suggest the withdrawal of the taxes imposed on petrol and petroleum products by
the Central Government and the State Governments. Those taxes can be withdrawn.
If they are withdrawn, the present price rise can be reduced by 25 per cent.
What we find is that every item is available in the market if we can pay
a higher price. So, sometimes artificial shortage throws people into
uncertainties. So, the Government140
has to rise to the occasion very firmly and very boldly. People are not
interested to see whether we are160
discussing the issue under Rule 184 or Rule 193 or under any Resolution or Adjournment
Motion. People want to see that some positive discussions are going to take
place on the floor of the House in Parliament and they are going to get
some relief. Unemployment is going up sky-high. We never bother whether this
issue will at all be discussed on the floor of the House at any time. I am a
Member of the Business Advisory Committee. I have never succeeded in introducing
this issue of unemployment. With a great priority, this issue has to be
discussed but it has never happened at all. Everywhere some frustration is
growing up. When frustration comes up, then these280 Maoists, extremists and separatists come
up and then these forces grow up. They are inter-related with one another. We
should not take any issue lightly. So, it is better if we consider
all issues together. If we see how one320
issue is affecting other issues, then we can come to a conclusion how these
things can be properly shaped and how we can give some relief to the common
people. I think either on the right side or on the left side, either on the Treasury
Benches or on the Opposition, all political parties are deeply
concerned with the price rise issue. So, the Government should come up with all
strength, and all stern measures are to be taken. We firmly believe that price
rise has taken place. The UPA Government is positively the pro-people
Government. Otherwise, being a partner420
of the UPA Government, we could not have submitted a notice under Rule
193. The necessity at this hour is that the Government takes over all the
essential commodities under Public Distribution System to save the people who
live below poverty line. I propose that let the Government tackle
black-marketeers and hoarders in a very stern measure by giving
exemplary480 punishment. Let
the Government have a thought over the major unemployment issue of the
country which has skyrocketed. It can be a part of the
solution to this unprecedented price rise issue. We believe that each one of
us should remain alert, each one of us should contribute our thoughts and
ideas in a very serious manner and never try to score upon one another. Madam
Sushma Swaraj spoke very well today which was very nicely responded to by
my560 honourable friend.
When I was talking to a senior Member from Congress Party, I told him
that by today’s debate we will hopefully get a very good dimension. He agreed
with me. Many honourable Members have spoken very nicely on the plight of the
common people.
Sir, after such an earth-shattering
speech, I feel humbled. There is no intention on my part to have a
political one-upmanship which we have seen here in this House
throughout the discussion on price640
rise today. Politics is not the only answer to all the problems and that is
probably why we are not able to address the real situation. It was not
something led by the political parties. This was a change in the scenario. It
was a movement led by the people of India and the political parties had to run
after700 the people, to prove
that they existed. In my State, my party organized a very peaceful strike
and that was to show the solidarity with the people of the State. It is said
that inflation is the rate at which the prices rise. This House is supposed to
give a voice to the poor of this country, but unfortunately, we all
represent the middle class or the rich. Today, a situation has come where the
middle class has become totally silent because of very personal interests. The
tom-toming of globalization, economic reforms and the so-called
development has shut the mouth800
of the middle class. Either they have ensconced themselves and become a
small group and are directly benefiting from the so-called development or they
are in a stage now where they hope that crumbs will fall their way. Unfortunately,
we840 are forgetting the real
India that is, the poor and the downtrodden. We mention them in our speeches.
But if you have seen the atmosphere in the House today, it was a very
fine atmosphere, jocular, laughing, and funny. Rarely has anyone spoken
sincerely on what the true problem is. I have noticed that after every
Pay Commission Report that is published, the prices immediately start
increasing. That means, the whole nation is waiting to what is happening to the
salaried Government employees, who probably are about three to four per cent of
the population of this country. But once the report is out, the common man, who
has no fixed income, is again strapped and is pounded down by960 the rising prices. The Central
Government has consistently blamed the State Governments for not controlling
the prices. But all of980 us
here are aware that except for some disciplinary moves, some raids and some
little control here and there, prices actually depend a lot on economic
policies and economic discipline. But unfortunately, the Central Government
has completely ignored its own responsibilities and is trying to pass
the buck to the State Governments, hoping that this will save its skin
by this sort of an excuse. I may be criticized, but I am willing to admit that
as a standalone case, just an increase in the petroleum prices is not the sole
cause for all-round rise in prices. As mentioned by the Leader of the
Opposition, your faulty taxation practices have gone into the inflationary
machine to increase its price. Definitely, the rise in the prices of petroleum
products has further fuelled this increase in prices. But on the other hand, 1120 the wrong policies being
pursued since the 1990s until today have also contributed to this situation.
As
I said earlier, the prices of petrol and diesel
affect the prices of other commodities. One of our colleagues defended the
increase in prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene. Even the Members of
the ruling party did not defend it so much. But the hon. Member, who is
an ally of the Congress, defended it strongly. He said that it was unavoidable.
He recalled what the earlier Prime Ministers had done. He also recalled that
the BJP Government had also increased the prices of these products during its
regime. I would like to say that this was the reason they lost
the Government. They lost the Government because they took wrong decisions and
followed wrong policies. If the Congress Party also follows the1260 same policies, this Government will
also not survive. They have to face the election. I would like to talk about1280 the Public Distribution System. In
order to control the prices and in order to help the poor people, we have to
distribute all essential commodities through the Public Distribution System.
This is very important. One of our friends said that they are giving one kilo
of rice at one rupee in Tamil Nadu. But what is actually happening in Tamil
Nadu? In open market or in any shop, you cannot get good variety of rice below
Rs. 45 per kilogramme. When we go to villages and meet people, they tell us that
they are not getting sufficient rice. Most of the PDS shops in villages are
part-time shops. They distribute the commodities once or twice a week. When
agriculture labourers1400 go
to shops at certain times to get the essential commodities, they are not
able to get it. Sometimes they are told that all the stocks are over. We do
not know where the stocks have gone. They are telling1440 that they are giving one kilo of rice
at one rupee. But most of the rice is smuggled to neighbouring States and also
to other countries. What they are telling is one thing and what is actually happening
in Tamil Nadu is a different thing. We are not able to get any of the essential
commodities. Hoarding is a very bad thing which is happening in the country.
It is because of the unscrupulous hoarding that the rich people are
stocking all the goods and when the prices increase, then only they are
allowing them in the market. This affects the poor man very much. Then, there
is the problem of online trading. Online trading is the worst thing which
affects the people. The man who is running the online trading is having one
computer with internet connection. That is all he needs. He is not a farm owner
or a trader. It is only because of having these types1600 of facilities that he blocks all the
essential commodities by giving some advances.
