Salient points in the Address by
Shri L.K. Advani
Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)

Meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party
New Delhi – 16 April 2008

There has not been another time in recent memory when the issue of price rise has so intensely agitated the minds of every section of the Indian society, particularly the poorest. For the past several weeks now, the entire country has been discussing only one issue, almost to the exclusion of every other issue. And that issue is the unbearable impact of the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

As the party of the Opposition, it is the duty of the BJP to raise in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha what is being talked about in the ‘Jana Sabha’. The BJP will fulfill this duty with all the seriousness and combativeness that the issue demands.

It is not for me to cite facts and figures about the extent and severity of the problem. Newspapers and TV channels are full of reports, features, analyses and editorials on the issue. But what struck me is a news item — indeed, the main news item on the front page of The Economic Times on Monday (14 April). Its headline said it all: ‘Boiling Prices Roiling Index – REAL INFLATION FALSELY REPORTED’.

The newspaper reported that “Inflation could be a lot worse than the 7.41% figure for the week ended March 29. The prices of a large number of essential items in the wholesale price index have not been changed for months, thus giving an incomplete picture of inflation in the real world.”

I would like to know from the Prime Minister if this is true. If this is even partially true, it raises serious questions about the honesty and integrity of the UPA government.

Of course, the government today commands the lowest esteem in the eyes of the harried common man and the common housewife. They know from their daily experience that those in power are not telling the truth about the true extent of the rise in prices.

A government that is not truthful with the citizens is not fit to govern.

What is equally painful to see is the insensitivity of those in the higher echelons of the government. Instead of confronting the problem with a proper plan and a united effort that can instill confidence among the people, they are busy passing the buck and blaming the opposition.

The Prime Minister has nearly conceded defeat by confessing that “containing rise in foodgrain prices is very difficult.” Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has blamed the land-use policy in the United States for the rise in prices of foodgrains in India! Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav has gone on record that “BJP-sponsored traders are responsible for the price rise.” And in words that echo the infamous comment by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that “corruption is a global phenomenon”, Science & Technology Minister Kapil Sibal has called price rise “a global phenomenon” and stated that “the government has no ‘magic wand’ to control it.”

Neither the Opposition nor the people expect the government go around the world in search of a ‘magic wand’ to tackle the problem of price rise. We only expect it to use the government’s own ‘wand’ — by which we mean sound pro-people economic policies, their effective implementation, close and anticipative monitoring of price trends, timely intervention to ensure adequate and affordable supplies, corruption-free functioning of the public distribution system, and, above all, a safety cushion to protect the poorest and the most vulnerable from the impact of inflationary pressures in the economy.

The UPA government has failed in performing any of these tasks.

• The UPA government has failed to boost the indigenous production of pulses and edible oils.

• The UPA government has systematically abandoned the path of self-reliant food security.

• The UPA government, with its short-sighted and arbitrary measures, has hurt both the kisan (who is not getting remunerative prices) and the consumer (who is paying more and more for less and less).

• The UPA government has actively facilitated — in what is perhaps the greatest land-related corruption scandal in India’s history — transfer of productive farm land to speculative money-spinning enterprises.

• The UPA government has failed to take any effective measures towards energy conservation and thereby reduce India’s dependence on imported energy resources.

We in the Opposition have so far pointed to the lack of cohesion in the ruling coalition, mainly between the Congress and the Left parties that are lending outside support to the government. However, the issue of price rise and the government’s response to it has highlighted another aspect of the lack of cohesion — namely, cohesion within the council of ministers.

Media reports in recent weeks have highlighted the continuing conflict between the finance and commerce ministers, and also between the finance minister and his other colleagues, on the specific measures to control rising prices. Hence, what one hears from the government is a cacophony of discordant voices, and not a clear enunciation of a confidence-building strategy.

I have stated recently — and I would like to reiterate it today — that as far as the common man is concerned, price rise means daily loot from his meager family budget. The UPA government is responsible for this daily loot, because, after having sought the votes of the aam aadmi, it has so far worked only for the benefit of the khaas aadmi. It has presided over the most iniquitous economic growth in India’s history, which is evident from the fact that the earnings of the 20 richest Indians is said to be more than 30 crore poorest Indians.

The common people are today fondly recalling the Vajpayee government's success in keeping prices under check. Indeed, the people are seeing the contrast between the NDA government and the UPA government in every other aspect of governance.

The common man is today tormented the most by rising prices. It is the duty of the Opposition to give voice to the sentiments of the people. By way of discharging this duty, we in the BJP wish to tell the UPA loudly and clearly: “CONTROL PRICES, ELSE QUIT!”