NATIONAL GENERAL secretary of the Congress Ashok Gehlot said that the Union Government was not responsible for the rise in prices of essential commodities.
He was here to on Sunday take part in workers’ meet organised by party MLA Ajay Kapoor. State president of the party Salman Khurshid and legislative party leader Pramod Tewari were also present on the occasion.
Talking to newsmen. Gehlot said, “The Union Government cannot be held solely responsible for rising prices of all essential commodities.”
He held the State governments responsible for price hike. Gehlot said, “The State Governments must also take necessary action to keep a check on rising prices of essential commodities.”
Gehlot said that the party president Sonia Gandhi had already convened a meeting of UPA on the issue of price rise but the UP Government had done precious little to check the price rise. He said that for all problems, the Congress could not be held responsible.
Replying to a query, Gehlot said, “It’s not correct to say that inflation shoots up each time the Congress comes to power at the center.”
On the prospects of Rahul Gandhi spearheading the election campaign for the party in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections, Ghelot said, “Rahul Gandhi is willing to shoulder the responsibility and lead the election campaign in UP.” But any decision in that regard had to be taken by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Ghelot said.
Commenting on the party’s candidate for the CM’s post, Gehlot said stated that the party was not projecting anyone as CM and would go it alone in the Vidhan Sabha elections.
On the prospects of Rahul Gandhi spearheading the election campaign for the party in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections, Ghelot said, “Rahul Gandhi is willing to shoulder the responsibility and lead the election campaign in UP.” But any decision in that regard had to be taken by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Ghelot said.
Commenting on the party’s candidate for the CM’s post, Gehlot said stated that the party was not projecting anyone as CM and would go it alone in the Vidhan Sabha elections.
However, he also did not altogether rule out pre-poll alliance.
Salman Khurshid, who was also present at the meeting, said, “The Finance Minister is sure of bringing down the prices of all essential commodities soon.”
At present, inflation is 4.68 per cent and efforts were being made to bring it down, he added. Criticising the State Government, Khurshid said, “Tax on petro-products in the State is the highest in the country and the State Government has refused to bring it down.”