The Bharatiya Janata Party today claimed that even with the
'temporary increase' in vegetable prices due to unseasonal
rains compounded by the 'Congress-hoarder collusion', the
BJP-led Government at the Centre had provided the nation
with a riot-free and scam-free rule over the last eight
months.
Referring to the BJP-led Government's rule over the last
eight months as compared to the 45 years of Congress
misrule, party spokesperson M. Venkaiah Naidu charged in a
statement that the Congress Party's performance on the
economic front during its five year rule - from 1991 to 1996
- had been dismal and miserable.
"Even as 40 per cent more Indians were pushed below the
poverty line during these five years, the prices of
essential commodities had skyrocketed with a 16.8 per cent
hike in the rate of inflation within 60 days of Congress
returning to power in 1991," Mr Naidu recalled while
charging the Congress with having failed to 'roll back
prices' in 100 days as promised in its 1991 election
manifesto.
Giving details of the price-hike of various commodities
during the last Congress Government, Mr Naidu said that
sugar prices had registered an increase of 50 per cent,
wheat prices become costlier by 300 per cent, rice prices by
350 per cent and urad dal by 150 per cent.
Elaborating on the escalation of prices during one year
(1995) of Congress rule, the BJP spokesperson stated that
even as the prices of pulses had registered a price hike
ranging from 43 to 47 per cent, prices of both potatoes and
onions had sharply increased by 75 per cent.
Repudiating the Congress Party's allegations that the BJP
was planning to rig the coming elections with the help of
the RSS, Mr Naidu said that the insinuation was borne out of
the Congress Party's desperation over the impending defeat
at the hustings. "The allegation is laughable and the BJP is
treating it with the contempt it deserves," he maintained.