Rejecting the government claims that the rate of inflation has come down in the country, the main opposition BJP on Wednesday demanded that the government should device an alternative means based on the actual retail price index (RPI) in calculating the inflation figures.
?The ground reality is diametrically opposite to the tall claims of the government on the price front. The prices of all essential commodities in general and food items in particular are literally on fire. The reason behind it is that while calculating inflation, retail prices are not factored in,? BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar said.
Lamenting the illusionary price figures arrived at by taking into only the WPI, Javedkar said, ?We demand that the government should develop a composite price index taking into account the retail prices of various commodities. This will certainly help in accurately reflecting the true level of inflation.?
The party, while quoting the government figures based on the consumer price index (CPI-UNME) and claiming it to be the real indicator, said, the prices has galloped by 6.4 % in one year since August 2006 and food items have seen a steep rise of 9.11%.
Moreover, asking the government not to play with statistics and then make hollow claims, the BJP said that the government must come out with an action plan to combat ever increasing prices of commodities and fulfill their pledge to comfort “aam admi”.
