The Hindu Business Line : PM hopeful of higher grains procurement

New Delhi, April 25 The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Friday assured the Left parties that the Government was taking all necessary steps to ensure that the recent increase in inflation is reversed.

At a meeting with the Left party leaders, the Prime Minister said that despite an extremely difficult global situation, with global food, commodity and oil prices rising, the Government has been able to ensure that Indians were among the least impacted in the developing world.

The Left delegation was led by Mr Prakash Karat.

Hopes on monsoon

The Prime Minister said that the Government is confident of increasing procurement of foodgrains and had already increased the minimum support prices. Dr Singh said that indications were of improved food production this year, which would further contribute to increased food procurement.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that a normal monsoon was expected this year which should further increase agricultural production.

He urged all the political parties to eschew the temptation of politicising the misery of the people and warned against creating an environment of scarcity which would only encourage speculators and hoarders.

Ban futures

At the meeting, the Left parties suggested that the Government strengthen the public distribution system by universalising it and restore the cut in foodgrain allocation to the States under the PDS.

The delegation also called for curbs on procurement of foodgrains from farmers by private companies and traders and a ban on futures trading in 25 agricultural commodities as had been proposed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.

The other members of the delegation were Mr A.B. Bardhan, Mr Sitaram Yechury, Mr D. Raja, Mr Debabrata Biswas and Mr Abani Roy.

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