Controlling price rise to be top priority of UDF if voted to power: Venugopal

Bringing down prices of essential commodities and protecting the household budgets of families would be the top-most priority of the UDF government if it came to power. AICC general secretary, KC Venugopal, said here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day fast and dharna organised by Mahila Congress workers in front of the Secretariat to highlight the issue of price rise, he said that holding the price line and ensuring that the prices of essential commodities do not derail the life and aspirations of families should be the first responsibility of any government which has a commitment to people

Market interventions through Civil Supplies Corporation and offering essential commodities at subsidised rates used to be an important activity when Oommen Chandy used to be the Chief Minister.

In contrast, any mention of price rise is now treated as an affront to the government and the person who brings it up is targetted, Mr. Venugopal alleged

He said that in the last 10 years, the price of everything from LPG to coconut oil had gone up several fold and this has been hurting consumers a lot.

He alleged that the Civil supplies department was being weakened by the government on a daily basis, while the government’s priority seems to be in extending bar timings and launching new liquor brands like “Minnal Magic” — something unthinkable of a government which claims to which stand by the middle class, Mr. Venugopal said.

The dharna was led by Jebi Mather, MP