Rahul Gandhi?s inflation remark divides NCP

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi?s remarks that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies are responsible for inflation, have divided Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders in their reactions.

On Tuesday, Gandhi had said coalition pressure is behind the government?s failure to check inflation.

?It was single part then (when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister), while today it is a coalition. And so, it has some compulsions in not being able to control inflation and corruption,? Gandhi said in Lucknow.

NCP leader and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Wednesday said Gandhi didn?t crirticize any party in particular.

“I don’t think Rahul Gandhi’s statement should be read in the context of current coalition as he was replying to a general question asked to him by students. He has not criticised any party in particular,” Patel told reporters.

However, other senior NCP leaders hit back at Gandhi scion and criticized his ?arrogance?.

“Statements by the leading party should reflect humility not arrogance,” said NCP General Secretary DP Tripathi.

He said: “I have always admired Rahul Gandhi and wished him success in politics. But I felt sad that the important political leader of the UPA and the Congress party has made a statement which is not based on facts.”

NCP leader Tariq Anwar said it?s time for Gandhi to check ground reality.

?The Congress should understand what is ground reality?it?s high time. After the Bihar elections, the Congress should know where it stands,? Anwar told media.

?It is a collective responsibility and it is not fair to blame one person,? he said.

On Nov 24, the ruling Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in Bihar with a thumping win, virtually wiping out the Opposition as it bagged 206 of the total 243 seats.

The Congress bagged merely five seats against its nine last time.

Meanwhile, Congress? main rival and India?s main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also came down heavily on Gandhi for his statement and said coalition government cannot be blamed for inflation.

“Even (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee headed a coalition, but prices were very much under control. Coalition compulsion may affect your ideological position but cannot affect measures to bring down prices,” said BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.

The food inflation had touched 18.32% in the week ended on Dec 25 with prices of onion bringing tears in the eyes of the consumers.

The prices of onion have gone up by a record 82 per cent over the corresponding period last year. And the vegetables are at an overall high of 59 per cent over the corresponding period last year.