1 Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009 SSS-AKG/11.00/1A ...

193Uncorrected/ Not for publication- 08.12.2009SHRI SHARAD ANANTRAO JOSHI (MAHARASHTRA): Thank you Vice-Chairman, Sir. If I remember correctly, it is the third time during theperiod of the UPA-II that we are discussing the price situation,particularly about the essential commodities. It is remarkable that noteven on one occasion that we have talked about the rural consumer.When we talk of consumer prices, we, essentially, talk of urbanconsumer. It must be remembered that there is a basic difference in theinterest of the rural consumer on the one hand and the urban consumeron the other. The urban consumer wants low prices; the rural consumerwants higher incomes. The basic defect in the policies of theGovernment is their failure to balance between the interests of ruralconsumer and urban consumer. On all the three occasions I hadpointed out that the increase in inflation and the hike in prices have adirect consequence of the policy of so called inclusive growth or theAam Aadmi economics. Sir, this has distorted the supply-demandsituation in the country as a whole. The flagship schemes of the UPAhave resulted in a lot of money being pumped into the consumer who isgoing in for additional consumables which is a happy thing. But, thathas to be matched with additional incentives to the producer communitywhich is not coming as has been pointed by so many previousspeakers. Unless we provide sufficient incentive to the producer, it isvery difficult. If we do not do that and go on pumping money into thehands of the consumer, the consequence would be what we are seeingtoday. The fact that Aam Aadmi economics has got them vote possiblygive them to think that they are on the wrong track. They might have