The Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that prices of essential commodities have started softening and food inflation will decline in the coming months. He said indications of softening food inflation are clearly visible and they expected to decline in the coming months uninterruptedly. <br/><br/>In his opening remarks after introducing the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha today the Finance Minister said food inflation has declined from over 20 per cent in December last year to 17.7 per cent in March this year. <br/><br/>Recalling steps taken by the government to deal with general inflation which risen to 9.9 per cent in March, Mr. Mukherjee said the government is committed to continue with the fiscal consolidation programme and gradually reduce the fiscal deficit.<br/>Nat more<br/> <br/>Govt assures IPL, Phone tapping issue among others to be discuss in LS<br/>The government today assured the Lok Sabha that all important issues raised by the opposition including the IPL and Phone tapping will be discussed. <br/><br/>The Leader of the House and the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said there will be an opportunity of discussing these matters with leaders of all political parties. He said government will consider as to what approach it will take and either he or the Prime Minister will get back to the house.<br/><br/>Mr. Mukherjee made the remarks after the members belonging to AIADMK trooped into the well of the house to press their demand for the resignation of the Telecom Minister A Raja in connection with the allocation of 2G spectrum. <br/><br/>Mr. Yashwant Sinha of the BJP while reiterating the demand of setting up a JPC to go into the IPL controversy wanted the government to respond. <br/><br/>The leader of the Opposition Mrs. Sushma Swaraj while assuring the government of full cooperation in getting the Finance Bill passed wanted the government to respond on their demands.<br/><br/>Earlier, the Speaker Mrs. Meira Kumar informed the House that privilege notice against the Prime Minister given by the BJP was under consideration. The issue of allocation of 2g spectrum and phone tapping today led repeated adjournment in both houses of parliament.