The Left told the UPA government on Wednesday that its future depended on how it tackled the alarming price rise and demands raised by it, and the Bharatiya Janata Party dared the Left parties to dislodge the government on the price rise issue. Initiating a discussion on price rise in the Rajya Sabha, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi attacked the government for asserting that it does not have a "magic wand' to tackle price rise. "Such an excuse will boomerang. The government has stated that it does not have a magic wand to contain inflation. But it should not forget that when people use their stick, it will be very harsh.' The Left parties, which were extending crucial outside support to the government, should switch over to the Opposition side and "dislodge' the government. The Congress had become synonymous with inflation and whenever it ruled, prices touched the sky, he said. Communist Party of India (Marxists) leader Sitaram Yechury demanded immediate suspension of futures and forward trading on 25 essential commodities. He demanded the strengthening of the Public Distribution System, restoration of the food grains cut in the PDS, re-structuring of the ad valorem duty and taxes on crude oil, petrol and diesel and stringent measures to check hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. "We will not be satisfied for anything less than this. The future of the government and the country depends on how price rise and inflation are controlled and the demands made by the Left are fulfilled,' he said. Procurement by government agencies, he said, had fallen drastically and there was a situation of "food insecurity' in the country. The government alone was responsible for this as it had allowed entry of multinationals and corporates into the agriculture sector. They had benefited immensely from faulty government policies and strengthened their hold over the market to control prices. Mr. Yechury said the inclusion of 32 more essential commodities for trading since March 13 this year was shocking. Though UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi understood the need for creating a framework on futures trading in 2006, nothing had been done till date. "Blueprint for disaster' "It is a blueprint for disaster and we demand immediate ban on futures trading on all essential commodities listed under it. The government should reverse the ad valorem tax on oil and strengthen the PDS.' Janeshwar Mishra of the Samajwadi Party said ban should be imposed on entry of MNCs such as Walmart in the retail sector and futures trading should be banned. P.J. Kurien (Congress) maintained that the Congress was doing its best to contain the inflation graph. He said the States should not move away from the responsibility of checking black marketing and hoarding. He blamed galloping prices of global crude oil and palm oil for the domestic price rise. D. Raja (CPI) said the present scenario was very grim and the government had to intervene at any cost. The Left had been warning the government on the issue. It would mobilise people to hit the streets against it.