The BJP-led government has inflicted a series of price increases of essential commodities on the people. In the Union budget the prices of wheat and rise issued through the public distribution system was increased steeply by 46 per cent. Another increase has been announced of 30 paise per kg of wheat for people below the poverty line, consequent to increase in the minimum support price for procurement. This means an increase of Rs 2 per kg over the earlier price of Rs. 2.50 per kg. The price of rice per kg has gone up by Rs. 2.40. The price rise has been steeper for the people above the poverty line and the effort is to dismantle the public distribution system as a whole. The price of sugar is now Rs. 13 per kg.