Only God will be able to help the Government if prices continue to gallop, the Opposition said on Wednesday.

Initiating the discussion on price rise in Lok Sabha, the twelfth in as many months, the former Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, quoting Britain's then Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, said, “Go, for God's sake. In the name of God, Go, Go', this House will tell you the same and will not tolerate” if the government failed to check rising prices.”

The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, will give his reply on Thursday followed by voting under Rule 184.

The motion moved by the Opposition parties said, “Despite repeated discussions in the House, the burden of price rise on the common man is continuing.

“Expressing deep concern over price rise, this House calls upon the Government to take immediate effective steps to check inflation that will give relief to the common man.”

FDI in retail

Mr Sinha also came down strongly against the Government's proposed move to bring FDI in retail sector.

He warned that it was “fraught with dangerous consequences” for the country as American companies such as Wal-Mart were known to have “destroyed” farmers and small retailers in the US and Mexico.

Diesel subsidy

Janata Dal (United) leader Mr Sharad Yadav asked the Government to withdraw diesel subsidy being enjoyed by car owners, telecom operators and malls. He said diesel consumed by telecom towers was causing an estimated loss of Rs 48 crore daily.

Intervening in the debate, the Law Minister, Mr Salman Khurshid, said the UPA Government had taken a number of fiscal measures such as reducing import duties and suspending futures trading in rice and certain pulses to rein in prices.

He admitted that inflation was on the rise since December last year but attributed it to the increase in petroleum prices globally.

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