(Image source from: Price rise plaguing common man})
"Achche din" still seems to be a far-cry for a nation battling with steep price hikes. That's right! Two-months into governance and Modi sarkaar has failed to bring any respite to Indians bogged down by atrocious rates of goods, commodities and services.
From rail fare to diesel and from petrol to LPG, Indians are bleeding dry trying to make ends meet. To add to that the soaring rates of onions, sugar and tomatoes that has been burning down the pockets of the common man.
The soaring rates of fuel, sugar and vegetable come as a blow for people who voted for BJP expecting a change from the 'wrong' economic policies of the previous Congress-led UPA. But now it seems, it's too early to expect anything.
While petrol rates went up by Rs 1.69 per litre and diesel rose by 50 paise, LPG gas soared by Rs 3.46 as government raised dealers' commission. Rates of non-subsidised LPG too increased by Rs 16.50.
Sugar prices, on the other hand, went up by Rs 2 per kg- Rs 33.40 for wholesale and Rs 2 per kg – Rs 39-40 per kg for retail. Tomatoes are selling for Rs 60-80 per kg in most part of the country. But is the government fazed? Not quite so, it seems.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Prabhat Jha recently left his party members red-faced, trying to downplay the sudden spurt in tomato prices by saying that tomatoes are only meant for the wealthy and hence, no big fuss should be made over its price.
Addressing the fellow Parliamentarians, he said, "Tamatar jinke gaal laal hote hai, jo paise waale hote hai, woh khate hai. Lekin uske baad bhi niyantran karne ki koshish ki hai. Lekin zara si mausam ki maar se badhi huyi keemat se humari sarkar ko maarne ki koshish nahi hona chaiye. (Tomatoes are only for the rich people. Even then the government is trying to control the price rise. The Centre should not be cornered on the issue of rising prices of vegetables because of bad monsoon).”
The Samajwadi Party quickly hit back with leader Naresh Agarwal affirming, "The public will teach a lesson on this issue. Even the Congress used to say this. I can only say the public which have brought them to power will dethrone them."
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
