NEW DELHI : The Government on Thursday came under attack in the Lok Sabha from the Opposition and supporting Left parties for its "failure" to check the rise in the price of essential commodities.

Referring to a Congress slogan of being with the `aam aadmi (common man),' members said that with the recent spurt in prices and the increase in petrol and diesel, the life of the common man had become miserable.

They expressed concern over the inadequate public distribution system, low procurement and on the decision to import wheat.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP) said while the Government had reduced the prices of cars and foreign liquor it had increased that of foodgrains. The new Saral income tax form for filing returns was so complicated that it required the assistance of chartered accountants, which would lead to additional expenditure for the taxpayer, he said.

Strengthen PDS

Basudev Acharia (CPI-M) charged that the Government had not taken any concrete step to control prices and said the burden was felt the most by people below the poverty line.

He said the Government should not only strengthen the public distribution system but also universalise it; remove the line differentiating above and below poverty line. The Centre had not taken any action against hoarders and those indulging in black-marketing, he alleged.

.Devendra Prasad Yadav (RJD) sought to know how the percentage of people below the poverty line now stood at 26 per cent against about 35 per cent a decade ago. "There has been no alleviation in poverty nor increase in the purchasing power of the poor, yet the percentage has gone down?''

M. Jagannath (TDP) demanded allocation of separate funds for price stabilisation and regulation, make the Food Corporation of India purchase foodgrains, distribute foodgrains through PDS, create a market intervention fund and restore subsidy ration.

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