Congress targets government over rising onion prices

New Delhi, Aug 21 The Congress on Friday slammed the government over "rising" prices of food products inclduing onions, saying that common man was feeling the pressure from all sides.

"It is apparent that some people have not learnt the lesson of history although it literally brought tears in their eyes in 2003 and 2004. The tears were not brought by peeling of onions but by the prices of onions. Today the prices of onions are varying from Rs.85 to Rs.80 per kg at the point you and I buy," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here.

"The prices of dal (pulses) is crossing is some ridiculous figure - the price of food items alone has gone high by 50 percent between July and now," he said.

Singhvi said that apart from the rising prices of pulses and onion, the common man is also reeling under an increased service tax.

"You are squeezing the 'aam aadmi' from every angle. The squeeze is something which is unacceptable. The government should stop all the grand announcements and get to the 'nitty-gritty'. All these great policies are of no use unless this (rising prices) is addressed," he said.