Results of steps on price rise will be visible soon: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: The results of the steps taken to control price rise would be visible within the next few weeks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here.

Singh gave this assurance at the Congress Working Committee meeting here which deliberated on the issue of rising prices, according to party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

The Prime Minister told the meeting that necessary steps have been taken in consultation with Chief Ministers and the results would be visible in the next few weeks.

Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states gave a presentation on steps taken to control price rise.

"We have been asked to take steps to control rising prices and check hoarding and black marketing," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The issue of Telangana also came up in the meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram stating that the terms of reference of Srikrishna Committee would be finalized soon.

The issue of "Mumbai for all" also came up with some leaders being critical of the stand taken by the Shiv Sena and MNS. Rahul Gandhi was not present as he is away on a tour of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was among those absent as he is in Mumbai with Gandhi. .
This is the first meeting of the Congress Working Committee in the New Year amidst increasing criticism of the government's alleged failure to control it.

The meeting came a day before the conference of Chief Ministers convened by the Prime Minister on price rise and at a time when consultations are on for the Union budget to be presented later this month.

Price rise in recent months has led to a veiled attack on Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar with Congress leaders saying that not enough was being done on this front by the NCP leader.

The Congress President in a letter to party workers had recently said the issue of price rise was one of the highest concerns and she had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister.

The previous CWC meeting on price rise was held in August last year in the wake of drought situation and rise in prices of essential commodities. The meeting had asked the party and government to observe austerity measures.