New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday said the government was “deeply concerned” about rising food prices and would take fiscal and monetary steps to deal with the issue.
“We are deeply concerned when prices go high, when people suffer,” said Mukherjee during a discussion in the Lok Sabha over rising food prices.

Replying to questions on the minimum support price for farm procurement, he said state governments should come forward and take the responsibility as it was too much to ask of the centre.

“If you expect the centre to do it, then I am sorry,” said Mukherjee.

India’s annual food inflation based on the official wholesale price index jumped to 15.58 percent for the week ended Nov 14, as prices of potatoes more than doubled and onions became dearer by 27 percent over the past 52 weeks.

Weekly data released by the commerce and industry ministry Thursday showed that pulses became costlier by 35.6 percent, wheat by 12.53 percent, rice by 11.89 percent, milk by 11.36 percent and fruits by 10.97 percent over the past year.