Govt's measures to curb inflation "half-hearted": BJP

BJP is planning to use the issue of prise rise to corner the Cong in the coming round of Assembly elections beginning with Karnataka.

Having decided to take on the Congress head-on the issue of price rise, BJP on Tuesday rejected the steps taken by the Government to curb inflation as "adhoc" and "half-hearted" which would have no impact on the situation.

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"The Government has offered too little, too late and has failed to take a holistic view of the situation. The measures are adhoc and will not have the desired impact," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

BJP, which is planning to use the issue of prise rise to corner the Congress in the coming round of Assembly elections beginning with Karnataka, said it would continue its agitation against the government.

Javadekar charged the Government with failure to check hoarding of foodgrains by private players and by the formation of cartels in sectors like steel and cement, which he claimed is adding to the sudden rise in costs.

He hit out at the Government for claiming that inflation was an international phenomena and alleged the UPA was trying to "cover up" its "economic mismanagement" and "failure" to check price rise by blaming global factors.

"The recent and sudden spurt in prices in India is evidently much more and faster than any global price warm up. Price rise is this government's gift to the common man," Javadekar told reporters.

He said the Government's income from the petroleum sector itself has touched Rs 170,000 crore in 2007-08 from Rs 40,000 crore four years ago because of the rise in global crude prices.

"And now to blame global factors as responsible for inflation is an inexcusable excuse," Javadekar said.