[1]Bhubaneswar: The BJP in Odisha has resorted to a novel way of protest against increase in the price of onion. The party has started selling onion at Rs 10 per kg in some major cities.
Led by former minister Samir Dey, the BJP workers have opened an outlet at Buxibazar in Cuttack where the party is doling out onion at 500 gram per person. Similarly, reports from Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur said the local party leaders have opened some outlets and providing as a mark of protest.
“Despite demands from all quarters, the Union government has failed to control the price of onion. We would continue to provide the commodity to people at Rs 10 till the UPA government finds some way to provide succor to the people," said senior BJP leader Samir Dey. Onion is the most staple commodity for the poor people of the state.
Nafed sells onions at Rs 55/kg in Delhi
“People of Odisha can make their day with a bowl of Pakhala (fermented rice), a pinch of salt and a piece of onion. The prices of onion have now gone beyond the reach of even better-off sections," Mr Dey said.
Taking a swipe at chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the veteran BJP leader said the BJD government had not done enough to control the price rise.
“The fair price shops opened by the government for providing onions to people at subsidised prices are just an eyewash as they could not even meet a fraction of the requirement. While law and order machinery in the state has collapsed, corruption, crime and atrocities against women are on the rise. The BJD government is now depriving the poor people of even a square meal,” he said.
Former finance minister and senior BJD leader Prafulla Chandra Ghadai, however, rejected the state government's laxity in controlling the price rise of onion.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/onion-bjp0jpg-799