Uttar Pradesh: Congress slams inflation, BJP puts blame on UPA deals

LUCKNOW: Stating that the Food Security Act and the National Disaster Management Act both have provision to distribute free ration to people during a disaster or emergency, Congress MLC Deepak Singh on Wednesday questioned the BJP government on the crores that it had spent thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the distribution of free ration to the poor during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The accusation was made when members of both Congress and BSP attacked the government over rising prices and the impact of that on farmers.
BSP was initially denied permission to take up the issue of farmers’ rights by chairperson Kunwar Manvendra Singh but was finally given five minutes to make its point. Its member BR Ambedkar said that inflation had a direct impact on the earning of farmers and that his party would also staunchly oppose the implementation of the three new farm laws in UP.
Congress’ Deepak Singh said that in 2014, gas cylinders were available for Rs 400 but then BJP members went around the country carrying cylinders on their head to protest against their cost. “Today, the same cylinder is available for Rs 850 in UP but they haven’t said a word. Crude oil prices were higher during the Congress regime in the Centre but fuel was still priced lower than what it is today. The BJP government claims to have reduced prices on urea etc while it first increased the price and then brought it down. It shares only half the information which suits it,” he said.
Leader of the House and deputy CM Dinesh Sharma said that BJP had done what ever was possible to control inflation. However, he added, that the UPA government had signed oil deals which was not possible for BJP to change and therefore, the country had to deal with higher prices.
“Despite everything, fuel prices in UP are among the lowest and people from Rajasthan, where there is a Congress government is in place, come to UP to purchase fuel. Prices have definitely changed but people are no longer around for basis facilities. There is no blackmarketing and all facilities are available to people without any bias,” he said.