Date:10/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/10/stories/2008021059330600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Prices have gone out of control: Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Saturday said prices of essential commodities had gone out of control. The government had also failed to maintain law and order.

In a statement here, she said within a year of the DMK coming to power, prices of commodities had gone up steeply. Ms. Jayalalithaa said no shops sold essential commodities at prices given out officially. Items such as dhal and cooking oil were not being sold in fair price shops for the last several months. The former Chief Minister furnished a list of commodities, their current prices and the percentage of increase as compared to 2006. Ms. Jayalalithaa said during her period as Chief Minister infiltration of LTTE cadres was stopped and extremism and naxalism were put down. Citing instances, she said law and order had broken down in the State. — Special Correspondent