The inflation rate, which measures the rate of increase in the Wholesale Price Index (P) on a day over the same day a year ago, has been rising over the past few weeks. This has translated for the working people into sharp increase in prices of commodities they consume, even while their wages remain the same. Official figures of inflation are in fact underplaying the real extent of impact of price rise on the lives of working people. There has been a massive increase in the prices of food grains, pulses, edible oils and other items related to food. Working people in the metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are the worst hit where prices of food and items of daily needs have shot up by almost 40 percent. The price of rice has shot up by 40 percent. Wheat price has gone up by nearly 25 percent. The prices of edible oil and pulses have also seen an increase of 25-40 percent.

More than 80 per cent of the people of the country live on less than Rs 80 per day and spend more than two-third of their daily earnings on buying food items. The most basic food items of people are going out of the reach of a large number of wage earners and toilers of the country. When food prices rise so sharply, a large number of people of the country have no option but to go hungry.

The government deserves the most severe condemnation for failing in its responsibility to take effective action to control prices and inflation. The UPA government did not act on this issue all these months when the prices were going up steadily. It was selling the claim of high economic growth and hoping that this would overshadow the issue of inflation. Indian bourgeoisie’s concern is not high prices but how to maintain a high growth rate and its profits. It is busy advising the government on the steps to be taken so that it can keep growing within and outside the country irrespective of what happens to the fulfillment of the basic needs of the people of the country. Even now, the ruling classes are not worried about how people can survive but how high food prices will affect their prospects at the next general elections, to be held early next year. The opposition parties are no less callous as they are busy finding out how they can take advantage of high inflation to win the next elections.

The import duty on edible oils has been reduced; the export of non-Basmati rice has been banned. The government says it will consider import of wheat if required but it is hesitant to do so as it will completely expose its anti-peasantry policies. The government is paying only Rs. 10 per Kg to farmers for procuring wheat but for importing wheat it will have to pay Rs. 20 per Kg. The UPA government is putting the entire blame of high inflation on the international factors. People are being told that the government has done what it can but prices are going to stay high until price situation eases internationally so they better learn to tighten their belt.

Peope's Voice condemns the government for its callous attitude to the suffering of the people as a result of inflation and rising prices of necessities.

Workers and working people are entirely justified in demanding that the government must fulfill its most basic duty of providing enough food at affordable prices to all. Emergency measures are required, including crackdown on hoarding, and ban on all forward trading of agricultural commodities. Such emergency measures must include the immediate revival and strengthening of universal public distribution system to provide all basic food items and necessities to the entire population at affordable prices. Wholesale trade in agricultural commodities must be nationalised, People's Voice calls upon the working class to unite and fight for the realization of these emergency measures. A government that does not carry out such measures has no right to exist.