Controlling prices is also responsibility of states: Congress

With UP Chief Minister Mayawati and her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar blaming the Centre for the price rise, Congress on Thursday hit back saying it (controlling prices) was also the responsibility of the states.

"The UP Chief Minister does not have the interest of the common man at heart. All she wants to do it to score browny points in politics. Government has announced a number of measures for checking prices and if any Chief Minister puts obstacle in these steps, this amounts to working against the common man," Party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Another senior party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi termed Mayawati's statement, charging the UPA government with working under the influence of capitalists, as "irresponsible" and "childish", saying no Prime Minister or Government can do this.

Putting states in the dock over their role in controlling price rise, Chaturvedi said, "Do states have no responsibility? Who looks after supply department, food department and the Public Distribution System? Is it not the state?"

"Centre can give foodgrains but what if states do not lift it. Many states did not lift even 40 percent of the foodgrains given to them. States have to take responsibility.

Putting the blame on the Centre alone won't do," he said.