A senior Congress leader today asked the prime minister Manmohan Singh to shift Sharad Pawar from the food ministry and appoint a "right person" in his place alleging that the NCP leader had failed to rein in the rising prices of essential commodities especially sugar and food grains.
Citing the example of former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru who appointed Rafi Ahmad Kidwai to overcome the crisis that had emerged out of food shortage during his tenure, Sumit Vyas, a former general secretary of the party, sought Pawar's replacement by a person who could look after the department better.
"Unfortunately Sharad Pawar has miserably failed to put a check on the rising prices. Sugar is now being sold at the rate of Rs50 per kg making it out of reach for the common man. Other food items also are registering continuous hike", Vyas said.
Instead of taking strict measures to check the prices Sharad Pawar is giving statements which have encouraged hoarders and profiteers, he alleged.
