As the prices of pulses soaring up day by day and elections for UP assembly and Punjab comming soon, the central government has decided to import pulses from abroad in order to arrest sharp raise in food prices.

Arun Jetli minister for finance held an inter ministerial meeting with his cabinet collegues at which it is decided to import more pulses from Myanmar and Africa with a view to increase its buffer stocks. It is also decided to release central stocks of more pulses to the states, wherever there is a demand to be sold not more than Rs120 per kg .

70 lakhs tonnes may be short due to droughts in agro sector. The Central has tried to throw the blame on the states for raising prices saying that the states are equally responsible for keeping the rates of essential commodities under control.