The Samajwadi Party on Monday urged Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma to convene a high-level meeting to check the rising prices of essential commodities.
In a letter to the Minister, party State president Rabi Behera stated that prices of essential commodities like sugar, edible oils, dal, potato and cereals have been sky-rocketed for which common consumers are suffering a lot.
This would further rise as the service tax has been increased from 14.5 per cent to 15 per cent in the General Budget.
The hoarders and black marketers are now having a hey-day and playing foul with market price of these essential commodities.
Giving an example, Behera mentioned that while wholesale price of dal is Rs105, retailers are taking Rs125 to Rs140 from consumers. Similarly, other essential commodities are being sold at much higher prices in retail counters.
Stating that the Government’s direction asking retailers to fix rate charts in front of their shops and mobile squads to take action against violators has not worked, Behera urged the Minister to convene a meeting of the Chief Secretary, departmental officers and the District Magistrates to take strong action against the unscrupulous traders who exploit the consumers.