Inflation: Worried PM calls for meeting
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a high level meeting on food inflation
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting on Tuesday on high food prices even as Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the government has no control over high vegetable prices.
Senior ministers including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahuwalia are expected to attend the meeting.
Onion remained expensive at Rs. 55-60 per kg in retail markets across the country. Prices could have gone up further but for the calling-off a two-day strike by traders in Nashik, the major producing area, within hours.
"...vegetable prices are high and on that we do not have any control," Pawar said, adding that prices will come down "eventually".
He said supply has started improving with fresh arrivals from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra.
Pawar comments come within days of senior ministers expressing difficulties in containing the price rise, particularly of food items.
"In general, all these issues (food prices and allowing export of agri-items) may be discussed in the meeting. I will myself try to raise all these issues because there has to be a collective view," Pawar said.
Pawar said that prices of rice, wheat and pulses are quite stable now but vegetable prices remain high.
Food inflation, fuelled by high prices of vegetables, milk, egg and meat, has crossed 18 per cent.
The onion shortage could not be made up by arrival of new crop in mandis.
Post new comment