Where are achche din? Opposition asks govt

The government came under fierce attack from the Opposition in both the Houses on Wednesday on the issue of price rise with members taking a dig at BJP, wondering where the “achche din” were as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Initiating a discussion in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Amarinder Singh demanded a complete ban on onion export to control its soaring prices.

The discussion under a rule that does not entail voting was taken up after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the opposition notices on an adjournment motion on the issue and said she was ready to have a general discussion.

He asked “where are achche din” as promised by BJP during the election campaign. Singh said the farmers who produce vegetables including potatoes, onion and tomatoes were selling their produce at low price and hoarders and middlemen were responsible for the soaring prices.

On similar lines, members of various political parties in Rajya Sabha expressed concern over possibility of deficient monsoon and urged the government to take appropriate steps to ensure citizens, especially farmers do not suffer.

Congress member and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh said the all-India figures till July 7 showed that monsoon has been deficient by nearly 42% this year.

He said if rain didn’t catch up, the situation would be serious.

A similar situation prevailed in 2012, when an EGoM was constituted by the UPA government then. Ramesh said the new government was “allergic” to GoMs or EGoMs and added that many decisions taken by the UPA were relevant, like extending number of days in which employment was provided under MGNREGA from 100 to 150 days.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav demanded a Supreme Court directive on restoring water bodies and wanted the government to waive interest on loans taken by farmers.