PM ask CMs to act tough against hoarders

The Prime Minister is likely to ask States to tone up public distribution system and take stringent measures against hoarders to check rising food prices, at a meeting with Chief Ministers in New Delhi on Saturday.

The Prime Minister is likely to ask States to tone up public distribution system and take stringent measures against hoarders to check rising food prices, at a meeting with Chief Ministers in New Delhi on Saturday.

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"The Prime Minister may ask the chief ministers to lift the entire allocations of foodgrains and edible oils for the PDS from the Centre.... He would also like to be assured that the states would take adequate steps to come down on hoarding," a highly placed official said.

High taxes on foodgrains and restrictions on their movement would also figure in the meeting even as the Centre is concerned over the Uttar Pradesh Government slapping a ban on processing of the imported raw sugar.

Driven by rising prices of pulses and vegetables, food inflation soared to a decade's high of about 20 per cent in December before declining to 17.56 per cent in January.

The meeting follows the Congress Working Committee deliberations, attended by Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, on the issue of price rise.

The Prime Minister told the CWC meeting that necessary steps have been taken in consultation with Chief Ministers and the results would be visible in the next few weeks.

Singh is likely to tell the chief ministers that many states were not taking enough steps against hoarders and black marketers.

He will emphasis on the need for joint efforts between the Centre and the states to tackle the food inflation which can act as an obstacle for revival of the economic growth after slowdown.