Maya hits back at Pawar,says inflation due Centre’s policies

She alleged the central government had reduced prices of petrol and diesel just before Lok Sabha elections in to gain political mileage.

“Once the elections were over,the Centre effected a hefty hike in petrol and diesel prices with the sole objective of benefitting capitalists and industrialists,” she alleged. The CM said hike in prices of petrol and diesel was a major factor behind inflation.

“Keeping in mind the possible shortfall in paddy production,the Centre should have imposed a ban on export of rice but under the pressure of economic criminals and blackmarketeers it allowed the export,” she said.

Mayawati said monthly wholesale price index of edible items which was 246 in November last year and increased to 287.1 last month.

“This indicated that price of edible items had increased by 20 per cent in the last one year. Are the state governments responsible for this?” she said.