Results of steps on price rise to be visible in few weeks: PM

The Prime Minister told the meeting that necessary steps have been taken in consultation with Chief Ministers and the results would be visible in the next few weeks.

Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states gave a presentation on steps taken to control price rise.

“We have been asked to take steps to control rising prices and check hoarding and black marketing,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The issue of Telangana also came up in the meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram stating that the terms of reference of Srikrishna Committee would be finalised soon.

The issue of “Mumbai for all” also came up with some leaders being critical of the stand taken by the Shiv Sena and MNS. Rahul Gandhi was not present as he is away on a tour of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was among those absent as he is in Mumbai with Gandhi.

While identifying prices of pulses,sugar,potato and onion as major areas of concern,the CCP on January 21 made an ad hoc allocation of 10 kg of foodgrains to all ration card holders per month over and above the existing quota.

The CPP also suggested that state governments should play a more active role in containing prices through effective dehoarding operations and use official agencies like the State Civil Supplies Corporations to distribute articles directly to consumers.

Earlier in the day,the CWC under the chairmanship of party President Sonia Gandhi,took stock of the price situation and is believed to have asked the government to take steps to contain inflation.

Among others,the CWC meeting was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,Defence Minister A K Antony,Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and party general secretaries.

Price rise in recent months has led to a veiled attack on Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar with Congress leaders saying that not enough was being done on this front by the NCP leader.

The Congress President in a letter to party workers recently had said the issue of price rise was one of the highest concerns and she had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister.