The Uttar Pradesh government said in the Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday that inflation was under control and the government was keeping a close watch on the situation.
The government made his statement while opposing the adjournment notice moved by the Samajwadi Party and Congress.
Opposing the notice, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi admitted that the prices of certain medicines had increased while asserting that the prices of all other medicines and essential commodities were under control
He said the VAT (value-added-tax) on petroleum products was far too low in UP and the prices of petrol and diesel were less in UP than the Congress and other opposition party ruled states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab and Maharashtra.
The minister said there was no resentment and agitation against inflation in the state. He said during the pandemic, the government was providing free food grains to the poor people costing Rs 188 crore per month. He said the government ensured the operation of the manufacturing units, sugar mills. He said Rs 1,000 for two months were provided to 79 lakh labourers in the state while Rs 1,000 each was given to 23 lakh workers in the state. Moreover, he said, Rs 1,000 and 15 days’ food grain was provided to 40 lakh migrant labourers.
Earlier, raising the issue, leader of the opposition and Samajwadi Party leader Ram Govind Chaudhary said the galloping inflation had broken the back of the common people. He said the prices of all essential commodities like pulses, food grains, electricity, LPG, petrol, diesel and building material had skyrocketed. The SP leader said the government claimed to provide free food grain, free LPG; but the migrant labourers were the worst hit. Chaudhary said deep resentment prevailed among the people and the situation could take an explosive turn any moment.
Congress leader Aradhana Mishra said contrary to the tall claims of the government, there was no let-up in black marketing and profiteering by the traders and the businessmen. She said even firewood at the cremation grounds was selling at exorbitant rates.