This is so funny. Or is it weird? Don’t know. Not an expert. But still a bit confused and perplexed. I really don’t know how the rising prices of almost everything indicate affluence and material comfort?
Honorable PM Manmohan Singh says the ever-increasing prices of food items do indeed indicate prosperity! “This (inflation) is a reflection of demand exceeding supply, to some extent it is a sign of growing prosperity of the country," Singh said in a press conference on the sidelines of the G-20 meet in France.
Food inflation rose to 12.21% for the week ended October 22. People continue battle the rise in prices of vegetables, pulses and milk. And the blow comes, from nowhere. Petrol prices were up by Rs. 1.80 last week.
This is the 13th increase in petrol prices since the fuel was decontrolled in June last year!
And it has a cascading effect on overall goods and services. Thankfully there is no rise in the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas as of now. Don’t know when that will be done to further complicate living for large masses of India.
This was possibly the worst timing for price rise. Major alliance partner in UPA, Trinamool Congress is fuming. It threatened to withdraw support to UPA thereby jeopardizing the stability at the Center.
Sometimes I wonder, Congress forgets the very ‘aam adami’, they were chosen to govern for the second time in 2009. Day-to-day life of this aam adami is getting difficult. Probably our political class never understands implications of continuous rise in fuel prices.
After all an MP’s salary is tax-free and comes with additional perquisites such as free petrol, free telephone calls and free housing. They get Rs 8/ km of travel allowance also! Most household expenses – furniture, electricity, water, laundry - are also paid for by the State. MPs can travel anywhere in the country by rail, first class, and get 34 free air tickets for themselves or a companion a year.
To baat aisi hai!
As a citizen we have to give all the taxes. And also face the music - saiyan toh khoob hi kamaat hai. Lekin, mehngai dayain khaye jaat hai!
