PM discusses food inflation with senior ministers

With the prices of essential commodities reaching alarming levels, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of food inflation which crossed 18 per cent for the week ended December 25.

The meeting will be attended by senior ministers, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to discuss the issue of price rise.

Food inflation rose to 18.32 per cent for the week ended December 25, because of rise in prices of food items like onion, milk and meat.

Retail price of onion continues to rule high at Rs 55-60 per kg in major parts of the country due to sluggish supply.