In the wake of onion costing a bomb in most parts of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday staged a unique protest against the hike by depositing onions and tomatoes in a bank
In the wake of onion costing a bomb in most parts of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday staged a unique protest against the hike by depositing onions and tomatoes in a bank, in an attempt to send out a strong message to the UPA Government on its apparent nonchalant attitude towards the plight of the people, especially the poor.
A BJP MLA from Kanpur Satish Mahana on Tuesday, deposited onions and tomatoes in the Allahabad Bank along with his party colleagues and said the government would have to take the blame if people start stealing onions and tomatoes instead of motorcycles and cars. "Today, by depositing onions in the bank, we are trying to send a message to the people highlighting this government’s pathetic and nonchalant attitude towards the poor people.
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The basic necessity for the poor people in this country is roti. And, the minimum requirement with roti is onion, coriander and chillies. Today, the price of onions is Rs.60 to Rs.80 per kilogram, and it is being predicted that the price may go up to Rs.100 per kilogram. Tomatoes are priced at Rs.80 per kilogram,” he said. “The government has created a situation where a person cannot even eat roti with onion, coriander and chillies. We are trying to send out a strong message to the government that people might no longer steal motorcycles or cars, but probably start stealing onions to satisfy their hunger,” he added.
Allahabad Bank manager N.C Sharma confirmed the deposit of onions and tomatoes by Satish Mahana and said that his demand for a locker will be granted once bank formalities are completed. “Mahana Sir has demanded a locker facility, and we told him to complete our perquisite formalities. We have opened his account and he deposited onions and tomatoes,” he said.
Onions are touching an unbelievable retail rate of Rs.80 per kilogram in some parts of Delhi and in other parts of India, as most of the crop has been destroyed by the heavy monsoon showers. According to television channel reports and other media reports, the price of onions has risen by over thirty two percent in the week gone by. The average wholesale price of onions has more than doubled since the beginning of this month.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said: "This is an issue of concern. It won''t be wrong to say that middlemen are taking advantage of this. He also said that he did not foresee a shortage of onions, as it is being imported from many states like Rajasthan. Experts say the trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon and the earliest respite can be expected around the end of September. (ANI)
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