New Delhi: Describing the rising trend in inflation as a matter of concern, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Sep 4, 2004) alleged the prices were increasing due to "lack of vision" and "confusing" economic policies of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government.

BJP vice president and spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it was "unfortunate" that inflation continued to rise, touching the highest point in four years, despite noted economists Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram being Prime Minister and Finance Minister respectively.

"The Government seems to lack vision. Its economic policies are confusing," he said in New Delhi, adding as a result common man was being crushed under the burden of rising prices.

Pointing out that inflation had touched 8.17 mark even as the Government was claiming it was trying to curb it, Naqvi said, "Clearly their purported corrective steps have failed."

The BJP leader said under the previous NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government inflation was witnessing a reducing trend and had started rising only after the Congress-led Government assumed charge.

"If the current trend continues, the day is not far when inflation will cross the double-digit mark," he said.