The Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML) has criticised the prime minister's plan to set up a panel of chief ministers and union ministers to check spiralling prices, saying it was an attempt to hoodwink the people.
Blaming both the Centre and the NDA government in Bihar for the unprecedented price rise of essential commodities, CPI-ML general secretary, Deepankar Bhattacharya, said it would organise a rally here on March 30 to "unmask" both the Centre and state governments.
"Constitution of panel will not serve the interests of common men facing the brunt of price rise as sugar and pulses have disappeared from the tea cups and plates of the people," Bhattacharya said.
Charging the Bihar government with failing to initiate action against blackmarketeers and hoarders, he said "in fact, the hoarders and blackmarketeers of essential commodities, seed and fertiliers are enjoying state patronage".
He said "faulty trade policy" being pursued by the Centre was also responsible for the price rise.