New Delhi: The centre wants a political consensus to try and curb inflation following a heated parliament debate on price rises, with the entire opposition blaming the ruling Congress party of failing to rein in inflation since coming to power in 2004.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said his government was willing to take further fiscal steps to contain inflation if the (parliament) members so suggest.

This year inflation has been rearing its ugly head time and again soaring to more than 6 per cent in recent times.

A year ago inflation stood at 3.90 per cent, has emerged as a key political battleground in the country of 1.1 billion people, where rising prices put huge strain on domestic budgets. Chidambaram said his government in recent months had imposed several control measures, including a ban on the export of staples to keep prices of cereals, cooking oil and milk products under control.

sHe said now the government will take further steps if required as it is aiming to moderate inflation.

Inflation has slipped to 5.6 per cent compared to more than six pc two weeks ago and efforts would continue to cut it further, he said.

Chidambaram attributed the rising costs to government spending in subsidy-gobbling sectors such as rural employment, education, health and agriculture.