Don�t Blame States for Price Rise: Naveen Patnaik

New Delhi, Feb 6 � Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday said that rising prices of essential commodities was a �national problem� and it needed to be dealt by the central government.

�It is a major national problem. States cannot be blamed for it,� Patnaik told reporters on the sidelines of a conference of chief ministers here to tackling soaring food prices.

�It is a macro problem. It has to be dealt by the centre,� he said. The chief minister demanded that the allocation of food under the Public Distribution System should be enhanced.