It is a false statement to say food prices are rising across the board. In my state in West Bengal Potato farmers are committing suicides as the price of potato is now Rs.2 per KG while the cost of production is at least Rs.4 per Kg. Because of success in production there is no place in the coldstorage at all. Why is it not possible for the Indian people to eat potato instead of wheat or rice? Also this idiot Sibal is totally wrong. India is not importing much food; thus world prices have nothing to do with Indian prices. Prices are rising for many reasons: (a) Too much foreign money came to India through short term borrowings; it is normal to expect prices will rise; So Stop borrowing from abroad. (b) Fuel prices are too high, and transport costs are rising fast; So reduce or eliminate tax on imports of oil. (c) Reintroduce rationing and public distribution system for all. (d) Increase interest rates. (e) increase tax for the upper-most income group (f) Abolish forward trading and speculations on food and commodities.
the government can do a lot if it wants. If it does not want, it can say what this Sibal is saying.
