Samajwadi Party has accused the BJP of spreading the rumours of slat shortage across the state. SP said it was a deliberate move by the BJP for diverting the attention of the people from the hardship they are facing due to the demonetisation of the currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.
The rumour spread like wild fire in almost entire state on Friday evening and also in Delhi and Uttarakhand caused panic and forced the people to buy the commodity in large quatitity thus pushing up the price from usual Rs 12 to Rs 20 per kg to as high as Rs 400 per kg.
“BJP people are old hand and very experienced in spread such rumours like they have done in the past. They can do anything and stoop to any low for their narrow political ends. I won’t be surprised if some other essential commodities are targeted in similar manner in coming days’’, said state SP president Shvipal Yadafv here on Saturday.
Commenting on the ban on the Rs 500 and Rs 1000, the SP leader said that `` the common people across the country are facing the worst nightmare in their life due to the dictatorial decision of the NDA government which has caused crisis for the people who are travelling or the families busy in preparations of marriage of their sons and daughters’’
“It was an ill conceived and hasty move of the Union government which was done without making prior preparation. The banking system has failed to service the customers and the post offices also have proved to be inadequate in serving the people as they continue to wait for hours together in queue for getting their currency exchanged or deposit the money’’, said the SP state president.
Meanwhile, SP received a shot in its arm when BSP assembly candidate from Kairana, Anwar Hasan along with his younger brother Kamar Hasan joined the ruling party here on Saturday. Anwar was the BSP candidate from Kairana assembly seat in Shamli district, while his brother Kamar, was given ticket by the BSP from Budhana seat in Muzaffarnagar district, but was withdrawn three days back.
Shivpal Yadav said that party will try to accommodate both the leaders in the coming assembly polls. The Kairana assembly seat is presently represented by SP member Nahid Hasan, who is also the nephew of Hasan brothers and recently defected to the bahujan Samaj party.
Meanwhile the state government on Saturday directed officials concerned to take action for curbing rumour mongering over salt scarcity and said their is no shortage of salt.
Chief Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar has directed the officials to ensure that no law and order situation arises in the wake of rumours about salt scarcity and assured that there is no shortage of salt and people need not panic.
In directives issued to all the administrative and police officials of the state, the chief secretary asked for carrying out raids, in case, some traders try to take advantage of the situation and indulge in black marketing or hoarding.