Naidu Visits Monda Market

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday launched a protest against the rising prices of essential commodities, especially vegetables, across the state.

Naidu visited the Monda Market in Secunderabad, and inquired about the prices of vegetables there from the traders and consumers, while TDP workers and leaders did the same at other markets across the state.

The traders at the Monda Market told Naidu that they were powerless since they themselves were able to procure vegetables and grains at a high price. The traders also told Naidu that the cost of transportation was so steep and the supply of vegetables so less that making the prices of essential commodities affordable was beyond their control.

Customers at the market told the TDP chief that their budgets were going awry each month, and that there were no savings despite working day and night.

The former chief minister then rode a bicycle to Indira Park to highlight the fact that petrol prices were beyond the reach of the common man. He later addressed a large gathering of his party workers.

Naidu said that the prime minister and the Union cabinet were responsible for the rising prices, and demanded that Manmohan Singh apologise to the nation for his 'inability to control the price rise' and resign.

Accusing the Centre of being irresponsible and incompetent, Naidu said that the Union government was increasing the burden on the common man by refusing to cut taxes.

Naidu demanded that the government bring down taxes to offset the rise of petrol prices in the international market, and thus reduce the rates of petroleum products.

The former CM demanded that the year 2004 be considered a cut-off point and prices of all essential commodities be brought back to those in 2004. The TDP chief vowed that his party would fight against the price rise till they are brought back to those on the cut-off dates.

He said that the 'back-breaking burden' on the general public has reached its peak and that the entire country was suffering due to the UPA's policies.

The former chief minister also said that the Government was taking advantage of the silence of the poor and the middle classes, raising prices of petrol twice a month.

Naidu said that the people he spoke to had told him that an entire family had to work at least 10 hours a day to just survive. They also apparently told him that they simply could not take a break to raise their voice against the government and stage protests.

He pointed out that the rise in prices of petrol has an escalating affect, with the prices of all essential commodities rising, too. He cited the example of onions, which had cost about Rs. 4 a kg but were now sold at about Rs. 50 per kg.

The TDP chief also mentioned tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, tamarind and other essentials, whose prices have doubled or tripled ever since the UPA government took reins of power.

Naidu further said that the mass corruption being indulged in by the Congress was the real reason behind the price rise. He alleged that the Congress leaders were making money through all conceivable means.

He cited examples of the 2G spectrum scam, the Adarsh housing scam and CWG scam, and demanded that the black money stashed in foreign banks also be brought back and used for public welfare.

A skit by TDP workers, depicting the high cost of essential commodities, was also played out at the Indira Park. The play saw a woman giving her husband Rs. 1,000 to get essential commodities, which he spends on buying liquor from a belt shop. On his return home he is asked why he did not get any food, to which he replies that the cheapest thing available is liquor.

Courtesy: INN