AGARTALA, February 23 (TIWN): Terming India`s rate of price rise the highest in the world, the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday blamed the BJP-led NDA government`s policies for creating a tendency of suicide among farmers. While inaugurating a rice mill of Tripureshwari Agro Product Private Limited at Tula Kuna in Champamura area Manik Sarkar said that "The rate at which prices of all commodities have been rising is phenomenal and it is highest among all the countries of the world. Due to the ever increasing cost of farming, there is a growing tendency among farmers to commit suicide," Manik added. "Not only do the farmers have to cope with constant price rise of fertilizers, seeds, irrigation, they are being compelled to make distress sale of the produce as they are not getting even the minimum support prices," CM added. However Chief Minister avoided important issues like irrigation, power supply at subsidized rate and effective agro-marketing to uplift the livelihood of farmers."The policies of the NDA government have resulted in continuous price rise, agrarian distress, growing unemployment and massive corruption. There is no difference between the Congress and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) as far as their basic policies are concerned," he mentioned.

BJP and Congress parties are always with affluent businessmen and bureaucrats, but never work for the common people, he alleged. Both BJP and Congress do not want important police reforms. One of the most important reasons why both these parties want police totally accountable to them rather than to the people is so that they can make use of money and muscle power during elections. BJP and Congress both are equally guilty of crony capitalism and favors to corporate, he added.

Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha, Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma and Deputy Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly Pabitra Kar were present in the inaugural ceremony.