Price Rise of Essential Items Rocks Assam Assembly

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The issue of abnormal rise in prices of essential commodities — including onion — in the State rocked the Assembly on Wednesday after Opposition MLA Ajanta Neog (of the Congress) move the topic for discussion. Stating that “price hike has affected every household”, Neog alleged that “price hikes have been taking place due to some syndicates. They start their illegal activities after the trucks carrying various essential commodities cross the Srirampur gate and enter Assam.” The MLA demanded that “strict action should be taken against the persons operating such syndicates”.

After the Opposition legislators expressed their views, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Phani Bhusan Choudhury rose to give his reply and presented a comparative price list of the essential items in January 2016 when the Congress government was at the helm of affairs in the State and the present times. The Minister claimed that the prices presently were comparatively less. Immediately, the Congress legislators started shouting slogans. Then the Minister said, “Don’t forget that during your tenure also, the retail price of onion had reached Rs 80 per kg in 2013.”

However, the Congress MLAs walked out of the House shouting, “Control Price Hike!” without listening to the entire reply of the Minister. Then legislators of the Treasury bench mocked: The Congress MLAs got a fitting reply!”

After the walkout of the Congress legislators, the Minister continued with his reply. “The State of Assam requires 700 metric tonne of onion daily. As the State does not produce onion on a mass scale, we have to import the item from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Bihar. As on date, the entire country is facing a downward slide in the production of onion. Presently, onion is being imported only from Rajasthan, where the price range of this essential item is between Rs 82 and Rs 84. The landing price range of onion in Assam is Rs 90-92. The retailers are allowed to charge Rs 6 above this landing price.”

Minister Choudhury continued, “The government of India is concerned over the onion crisis; and the Centre has decided to import 1160 MT (metric tonne) from Egypt and 1,100 metric tonne from Turkey. We have already informed the Central government that we would be requiring a particular quantity from these imported consignments.”

A State corpus fund of Rs 200 crore will be created to tide over onion crisis in next fiscal, the Minister announced. He added that the fund will help the State government to procure the item in advance to be ultimately distributed among the common people at subsidised rates. While the Centre will provide Rs 150 crore for the fund, the State’s share will be Rs 50 crore.

Earlier moving the motion, legislator Neog also stated that prices of essential commodities vary in different markets across the State. Referring to the price of onion, she said that “its price has already crossed Rs 100.”

She further alleged, “The government does not have control over the retail market. There are syndicates for each item — fish, eggs, and vegetables to mention but a few. The persons responsible for this state of affairs are the few but influential unscrupulous traders involved in the hoarding and marketing of essential food items.”

She added, “The BJP-led coalition talked of ‘Ache din’ (good days) before the polls, but we have not seen their much-touted ‘Ache din’!”

Participating in the debate, AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam said, “Farmers sell vegetables at the price range of Rs 10 -12 per kg, however those vegetables are being sold in Guwahati at the average price range of Rs 60-70 per kg.” The legislator demanded that “the government must sell at least onion, pulses, and mustard oil at subsidised rates through PDS (Public Distribution System).”

Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar posed, “Won’t the Sarbananda Sonowal’s government allow the masses to lead life honourably?”

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia also participated in the discussion.

The Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, Hitendra Nath Goswami asked the Minister to explore possibilities of distributing onion among the common people at subsidised rates. Referring to the walkout of the Congress legislators earlier during the session, the Assembly Speaker said, “The Opposition should have patience for listening to Ministers’ replies.”

Also Watch: 12-wheeler lorry creates menace in Barpeta, Passes over Weak Wood Bridge despite Notice