New Delhi, May 13: Seemingly rattled by unmitigated inflationary trend, despite a slew of measures taken by the UPA Government, the Congress seems to be fearing doomsday as it looks at the possibility of Thomas Malthus’ theory about population growth outstripping food supply becoming a reality. In the latest issue of Congress Sandesh, the party’s mouthpiece, the ruling party said worldwide exorbitant price rise had “compelled even the US and Japan to go for rationing of food items at some places”.

“Prices of food and other eatables are touching the sky throughout the world. Have we reached a situation where we have to take the 18th century economist Thomas Malthus seriously, who predicted cycles of population growth outpacing resources and leading to catastrophic decline? Though the whole situation is not yet gloomy, is the world not standing on the verge of it?” asked a column in the party mouthpiece.

The party suggested that growing more food, creating clean fuels and fighting climate changes was a responsibility to be taken over “by the entire humanity”. “It could be too late if these basic global issues are ignored anymore,” it further said.

The editorial of the magazine focused on price rise, terming it a “global phenomenon” and said the root cause of the problem was escalating oil prices internationally. “This has led to the growth of bio-fuels that have taken away land under food production in developed economies,” it said.

The editorial also took a dig at the Left, which has been criticising the Government on this issue. However, without directly mentioning West Bengal, the editorial said: “The other issue that must be looked at is the malaise of hoarding foodgrains. Closely linked to this, the corruption in the PDS also exacerbates food shortages.”