Maintaining that increase in prices of foodgrains was an annual feature before harvesting of crops, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday said the UPA government has initiated several steps to check the price rise. He termed the BJP as a party of "businessmen and hoarders" and charged, "though the saffron party has been critical of price rise, state governments ruled by it have failed to take action against hoarders and black marketeers responsible for artificial scarcity of foodgrains".

Singh arrived in Palampur to attend a marriage function and was received at the airport by HPPCC President Kaul Singh Thakur.

"Prices of foodgrains rise annually before harvesting of crops," he told reporters at Gaggal airport.

Reacting to by-elections to Rohroo and Jawali in the state, Thakur expressed confidence that Congress would win both the seats "comfortably".