MOHALI: Punjab Chief Minister  Parkash Singh Badal Monday blamed the Centre for its arbitrary economic policies that had led an unprecedented price rise of the essential commodities over a past six months.

Addressing a mammoth gathering after paying floral tributes to great Sikh Warrior of 18th Century Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia at a state level function to mark his 285th birth day, he called the upon the like minded people cutting across the political affiliations to wage a war against the ill conceived policies of Centre which was bent to bring the state's industry to a grinding halt due to sky rocketing prices of steel and cement which had almost registered an increase of 50%.

He said that Centre could not shun its responsibility in keeping the inflation in control because it was solely responsible for the steep hike in the prices of steel and cement because the GoI heavily exported them resulting in its acute shortage.

"Had the Centre viewed the situation seriously it would had not adversely affected the economy as now, because any country could indulge in heavy exports only in a situation of surplus production" said Badal.

 Badal said that the spiraling prices of essential commodities had also virtually crushed the common man due to the wrong and anti-people policies of the UPA government on contrary to its tall claims of the government aimed at welfare of the general masses.  He said the Congress party was toeing the line of capitalism thereby blatantly ignoring the basic needs of a people.

Badal said; 'had Congress serious to the core in mitigating the sufferings of a common man it would have certainly initiated measures to check inflation'. 

The Chief Minister held UPA government responsible entirely for the price rise due to its self centered policies just to benefit few industrial houses that could later on help the Congress party during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

Showing deep concern over the highest ever rate of inflation registered in the recent past, Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram to take immediate remedial measures to check inflation which was playing havoc with the lives of the people rather in dillydallying the issue on one pretext or the other.

On the procurement front, Badal shared his happiness and satisfaction over the achievement of the target of the procurement of over 90 lakh MT of wheat and said; "it is expected to cross the mark of 100 lakh MT as the yield has registered an increase of 40% over the last year". 

He categorically said that Punjab had kept its promise in meeting the target of procurement fixed by GoI whereas it never bothered to watch our genuine interests by giving us a fair deal in terms of remunerative MSP to our farmers.

In a welcome address Tourism & Jails Minister Hira Singh Gabhria said that Ramgarhia community was committed for the development and progress of the state.  He said that this community was bestowed with the qualities of skilled craftsmanship and had tremendous acumen and enterprising skill which should be optimally exploited.

 He urged the Chief Minister to name the Punjab Technical University Jalandarh and the proposed four lanneing road connecting Kharar-Mohali-Zirakpur to International Airport Mohali after Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia for his heroic deeds.

Responding to the demands Badal expressed his inability to announce the acceptance of these demands in view of the model code of conducts being enforced for the ensuing Amritsar South bye-election and Panchayat elections in the state.