Verma's comment shows disconnect between PM, UPA Ministers: CPI

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday said that Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma' s comment on price rise clearly shows disconnection between the views expressed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues.

CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjaan said he totally disagrees with Verma' s comment, as the farmers are at the moment not even getting the cost, which they have invested in agriculture

"I think the Union Minister's version is a laughable one. I don't consider what he says. In fact, the prices of the agriculture input have gone up from 13 to 27 percent during the last one year. The input cost has gone too high and they are not getting the cost, which they have invested in agriculture. So, I don't agree with what the minister says," he said

Anjaan said the middleman and traders get the money and enjoy the fruits of the government policy and decisions.

"Unfortunately, the Prime Minister many a times repeatedly said the price rise will be controlled, but unfortunately the ministers are speaking in a different term," he said.

Verma had earlier on Sunday said that he was happy with the rising prices of these food items, as it will benefit farmers.

"Dal, atta, vegetables have all become expensive. The more the prices rise the better it is. I am very happy with inflation," he told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Barabanki, near Lucknow

When asked to comment on Verma's jibe at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Anjaan said every individual has aspirations in politics

"In politics everyone aspires, they look forward, they dream sometimes. They act on the hard realities, which they face. But using the 'crazy' word, I think its not good. Crazy people are different. Crazy is Gopal Kanda, the Congress Minister of Haryana Government. This crazy MLA was inducted into the Congress Party by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh," said Anjaan.

"This crazy MLA was inducted into Haryana Government at a very high position after the chief minister. He was made the home minister by leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. People selected by them have shows theie real colours to the nation.," he added

Anjaan said that the policies of the UPA-II Government led by the Congress have lost the ground.

"The people have lost faith in Congress Party. 13 times the Prime Minister has said that the prices will be checked, but it is a futile exercise. The Prime Minister is dreaming from the ramparts of the Red Fort that in the coming five years, every house will get electricity. The term of this government is (now) only for two years, but he is dreaming of five years," he said

Anjaan also used the occasion to target the BJP, saying the NDA is also not committed to control the rampant corruption in the country.

"The NDA led by BJP is also very much in trouble because a year and a half back Advaniji organized his Rath Yatra against corruption, but at the same time his own chief minister in the south, Yeddyurappa, was caught and sent to jail because of the corruption charges which has been proved almost," said Anjaan.

"His ministers in the Cabinet of Karnataka has amassed 50,000 crores. They are in jail, the Reddy Brothers. So, people have also lost faith in the NDA. People want a drastic change in 2014, a change which can change their lives," he added

Verma had earlier on Sunday criticized the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, saying 'Mulayam Singh has gone mad, and his dream of having a government at the Centre will never come true'.