Weak signals
The government's inability to curb surges in food prices is a significant reason for rising discontent with the Centre, although state governments are to blame too. One of the bizarre contradictions facing the country is that while food prices continue to rise, we also grope desperately for finding adequate storage facilities for mountains of rotting foodgrain following a record harvest. But it is not just foodgrains like rice or wheat - which account for most of the food stocks of around 53 million tonnes - that are driving up food prices. Those of vegetables, pulses and edible oils are soaring much faster.