The Rajya Sabha today discussed price rise of essential items. Replying to the discussion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, the government is always keen to debate and discuss important issues like price rise of essential commodities. She said, compared to situation prevailing in many other countries, &nbsp;India is in a &nbsp;much better situation. She said, the Indian macroeconomic indicators are stronger compared to many developed countries. At the same time, she said that the government is not in denial about price rise. She said that the government and RBI are taking all steps to keep inflation under check. She said that India us in a much better situation compared to other countries. She said that the GST on food items was unanimously adopted by the council. Not one state opposed the levy of GST on food items, she said. She said, the food items being consumed by the poor have been exempted from levy of GST.<br />” <br />” She said that the GST council has applied its mind on the issue at several levels to make sure that items being used by the poor stay exempted from GST levy. She said that present GST, &nbsp;several states had been levying tax on food items. She clarified that there was no GST on crematorium.<br />” <br />” She said that the price of Jan Aushadhi medicines are lower by 50 to 80 per cent from market prices of these medicines. She said the Jan Aushadhi Kendra have helped bring affordable medicines to the poor.<br />” <br />” Initiating the debate, Elamaram Kareem of CPI-M alleged that there has been a skyrocketing rise in prices of essential commodities in the last seven years of the NDA government.&nbsp; He said, in the last five years, the prices of rice and wheat registered 24 per cent hike while pulses increased by 20-30 per cent. Cooking oil prices have also been risen, making it unaffordable for people, he added.<br />” <br />” Prakash Javadekar of BJP said, the rise in prices of crude oil is governed by international factors. He said, the Modi government has enhanced the reach of food security in the country. He said, the government has worked constantly to check inflation levels.<br />” <br />”Shaktisinh Gohil of Congress said, it is a matter of concern that instead of checking prices, the government increased GST on food items, putting a burden on the common man.<br />” <br />”Speaking on the debate, Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress said that &nbsp;if inflation in the United States is 9 per cent and India’s inflation is seven per cent, why is the rupee still depreciating against the dollar.<br />” <br />” Tiruchi Siva of the DMK said that the high taxes are creating a burden on the &nbsp;common man. He said &nbsp;that &nbsp;it is a matter of concern that even when a person dies, 18 per cent &nbsp;GST is to be paid even at the crematorium.<br />” <br />” Sanjay Singh of AAP said, the government is burdening the common man under the burden of heavy taxes.<br />” <br />” Vijayasai Reddy of YSRCP expressed concern on the rising inflation in the country. &nbsp;<br />” <br />”Sujeet Kumar of the BJD said, price rise has a direct impact on mid day meal schemes.<br />” <br />”Vijay Sai Reddy of the YSR Congress party alleged that the government has failed to control &nbsp;inflation.<br />” <br />”Birendra Prasad Baishya of AGP called for a fixed tax structure for petroleum products across the country.<br />” <br />” Sudhanshu Trivedi of &nbsp;the BJP said that inflation rate in India is far less compared to other countries of the world.<br />” <br />” Raghav Chadha of Aam Aadmi Party said that it is a matter of concern that rural inflation in India is higher compared to urban inflation.<br />” <br />” Rajni Ashokrao Patil of Congress expressed concern on rise in price of LPG cylinder.<br />” <br />”Fauzia Khan of NCP expressed concern on levying of GST on basic commodities. <br />” &nbsp;<br />”The logjam in the Rajya Sabha between the treasury benches and the opposition on rising inflation and other issues continued for the second day of the third week with the Upper House witnessing opposition uproar during the Zero hour. Earlier, the House took up the question hour.