Lucknow:
Accusing the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar of making irresponsible statements on rising prices of food items, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday demanded his removal saying such remarks will only boost the morale of hoarders and profiteers.
"Pawar had today said that prices of milk and dairy products could increase in future. It is unfortunate that a senior minister is giving such irresponsible statements, which will only boost morale of hoarders and profiteers," Mayawati told reporters. "I request Manmohan Singh to remove him immediately, otherwise it will indicate that whatever statements Pawar has given, he had done with the consent of the PM," she said.
Mayawati threatened that if Pawar was not removed by January 27, then she will not attend a meeting of the Chief Ministers called by the Prime Minister to discuss price rise. She said it is unfortunate that while Congress-led UPA and had called a meeting of the CMs to discuss measures to control price rise, the Union minister is giving irresponsible statements to the media.
She alleged that Pawar's statements have bolstered the morale of the hoarders as a result of which prices of food grains and other essential commodities were increasing every day. She said Pawar's statement that prices of dairy products may increase in future due to short supply of milk in north India will only promote the hoarders.
"This statement will lead to hike in milk prices," she alleged.
Alleging that it was not for the first time that Pawar had given such a statenment, she said, "In the past too he had given irresponsible statements regarding sugar and other food grains, which led to price rise."
"In the interest of the poor people I request the PM to remove Pawar from the post of Union Agriculture Minister," she demanded and threatened not to attend the CMs' meeting called by the PM on January 27 if it was not done. She said the state government had become cautious with the attitude of the Union Minister and the Centre.
"In a fresh decision the state government has today decided that SDMs will undertake surprise visit of every tehsil once a week and will monitor prices of essential commodities," she said.
The CM said that directives had already been issued to take stern action against hoarders and blackmaketeers.
"Pawar had today said that prices of milk and dairy products could increase in future. It is unfortunate that a senior minister is giving such irresponsible statements, which will only boost morale of hoarders and profiteers," Mayawati told reporters. "I request Manmohan Singh to remove him immediately, otherwise it will indicate that whatever statements Pawar has given, he had done with the consent of the PM," she said.
Mayawati threatened that if Pawar was not removed by January 27, then she will not attend a meeting of the Chief Ministers called by the Prime Minister to discuss price rise. She said it is unfortunate that while Congress-led UPA and had called a meeting of the CMs to discuss measures to control price rise, the Union minister is giving irresponsible statements to the media.
She alleged that Pawar's statements have bolstered the morale of the hoarders as a result of which prices of food grains and other essential commodities were increasing every day. She said Pawar's statement that prices of dairy products may increase in future due to short supply of milk in north India will only promote the hoarders.
"This statement will lead to hike in milk prices," she alleged.
Alleging that it was not for the first time that Pawar had given such a statenment, she said, "In the past too he had given irresponsible statements regarding sugar and other food grains, which led to price rise."
"In the interest of the poor people I request the PM to remove Pawar from the post of Union Agriculture Minister," she demanded and threatened not to attend the CMs' meeting called by the PM on January 27 if it was not done. She said the state government had become cautious with the attitude of the Union Minister and the Centre.
"In a fresh decision the state government has today decided that SDMs will undertake surprise visit of every tehsil once a week and will monitor prices of essential commodities," she said.
The CM said that directives had already been issued to take stern action against hoarders and blackmaketeers.
