gÉÉŌ A.]ÉŌ. xÉÉxÉÉ

03.08.2010
SHRI T.R. BAALU (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Mr. Chairman, I would like to record
our Party’s views on the issue of inflationary pressure on the economy and its
adverse impact on the common man.
Hon. Leader of the Opposition Shrimati Sushmaji has rightly pointed out
that we are not traders, we are watchdogs. That is what she mentioned at the fag
end of her speech. I could understand ‘we’ means, not only BJP, not only the
opposition, it includes Members of the ruling party also. Over and above, I wish to
point out a Tirukural in Tamil said by Thiruvalluvar.
It says :
“Nahudal poruttandru natal mihudhikkan
Merchendru idithal poruttu”
It means – friendship is not for playing fun and frolic but to correct, to
criticise if he or she exceeds. In the same way, as a friend of the ruling Party, as an
ally of the ruling Party I could say this. If they exceeded, it is for me to correct. If
they had gone wrong, it is for me to criticise. But, as far as we know, I do not
think this Government headed by the great economist Dr. Manmohan Singh has
done anything wrong. It is because of the increase of the crude prices world over,
because of the international price, because of that pressure, we have rationalised
the prices of our petroleum products with a heavy heart, not intentionally, not
willingly but it was done because of the international pressure, because of the
pressure of the oil market. So, we have rationalised the prices.
Mr. Chairman, Sir, I would ask my friends in the Opposition. When hon.
Advaniji was the Deputy Prime Minister of this country in NDA regime, have we
not rationalised the petroleum prices? Hon. Deve Gowdaji, when I was the
Petroleum Minister under you as Prime Minister, in the United Front Government,
have we not rationalised the petroleum prices? Shri Yadavji, it applies to yourself
also. Hon. leader of the CPI Shri Gurudas Dasgupta is here. When late Shri
Indrajit Gupta was the Minister in the United Front Government, have we not
115