Coimbatore (PTI): With inflation touching a 13-month high, the CPI(M) on Friday said the burgeoning prices reflected a "major failure" of the government and rejected its argument that cause was global price rise.

"This is a major failure of the UPA government. The justification given by (finance minister) P Chidambaram on global price rise cannot be accepted by the people," party Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said here.

She was commenting on the rise in inflation, which touched 13-month high of 6.68 per cent.

The 19th congress of the CPI(M) starting on Saturday is likely to adopt a strong resolution castigating the UPA government for its "failure" to control the prices of essential commodities.

Brinda also talked about the "failure" of the government in making available foodgrains and other essential items through the public distribution system to the poorest section of the people.

The party is likely to criticise the government on the public distribution system and the drastic cuts made in the supply of rice and wheat quotas to various states, including Left-ruled Kerala and West Bengal.