LUDHIANA, July 9: Janata Dal has criticised the Centre and the state government for their failure on the economic front and all round increase in the prices of essential commodities. State convenor of the party Harish Khanna has asked the state government to wake up from deep slumber and effectively check the price rise or quit on moral grounds.Lamenting over grim economic scenario, Khanna observed in a statement that prices Of essential commodities had shot up by over 300 per cent. While the average people were finding it difficult to make both ends meet, the plight of farmers was still worse and burdened by the ever increasing debt trap, they were forced to commit suicides. As many as 150 suicidal deaths had been reported in Punjab alone.The situation, he said, was no better on the employment front. There were seven lakh youth registered as unemployed and government did not appear to be worried over their fate and no plans to expand job avenues seem to be in sight.According to Khanna, the government was stepping up taxation rates to mobilise more resources for development works, unmindful of the startling fact that of every rupee spent for development works by the government, a staggering 87 paise were pocketed by middlemen and intermediaries.Moreover, corruption had crossed all limits and hoarders and black marketeers were holding the masses to ransom, while the government was helplessly watching like a mute spectator, he added.
