Launching a strong defence of recent economic reforms by the Centre, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Opposition of misleading the people on FDI in retail and stressed that the measure will ensure that farmers get appropriate price for their produce.
On the issue of hike in diesel prices and cap on LPG cylinders, Sonia said "shouldn't the state governments also play their role in giving relief to people, when the Centre was doing it" and asked why Gujarat and other BJP ruled states were not taking cue from the Congress governments in states to reduce taxes like VAT.
"What happens is, that produce of farmers is bought at the possible cheapest rates and is sold in cities at highest possible price, I want to ask that isn't it the right of farmers to get right price for their produce," she said.
"Isn't it the right of a common man in city that they should get goods of daily use at right price...When will this be possible? Sonia asked. "It can only be made possible when farmers are able to make their produce reach city without any intermediary...and this is the meaning of FDI," she claimed.
Gandhi said that Congress has always believed that unless farmers and villages prosper with the pace of development in urban areas, India cannot be termed a progressive country in real sense.
An important aspect of it (FDI) is that if chief minister of any state does not want to implement FDI, they are not bound for it, the Congress leader said.
"It is entirely on their own sweet will. Then I want to ask what is the necessity for so much commotion on the issue, and why is it necessary to mislead public over it....you please think over it," she said.
Explaining the reason behind the hike in diesel prices and cap on subsidised LPG cylinders, Sonia said the nation gets impacted due to escalating prices of oil, fertilisers, etc in the international market, which is imported in bulk by the nation.
"You all know that the world has been passing through an economic slowdwon since a long time. This situation has turned graver now....I think you must be knowing that to meet our requirements (as per needs) 80 per cent oil has to imported," she said.
"The oil imported during NDA's rule was at USD 32 per barrel, but today it is at USD 140 per barrel. Fertiliser and other things also have to be imported...so whenever the prices of these commodities go up in the international market, there is a considerable impact on us," Sonia said.
Despite that, the UPA government is moving ahead to give relief to common man. Likewise, it should also be the responsibility of the state governments, Sonia suggested.
Targeting the Gujarat government on the two issues of FDI and hike in fuel prices, the Congress leader said, "If the state government here actually wants to give relief to people then why don't they reduce VAT...you all know that VAT is highest in Gujarat."
"In states where there are Congress-led governments, it has been decided to provide three more LPG cylinders on subsidised rates. But why this has not happened in Gujarat?" she asked.