When Delhiites already have enough on their plate without cash following demonitisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, non-vegetarian items will also disappear from their platter. Meat distributors on Saturday decided to shut their shops and stop supply indefinitely from Sunday till the currency started fully circulating in the markets. They also complained that sales tax officials were raiding their shops frequently and not letting them work.
According to Javed, a meat distributor of Ghazipur mandi, he did not know how to pay off the poor people who would supply the meat to him in order to supply the same in the market.
“ATMs are closed and banks have long queues and then eventually going out of money. How are we going to run our businessIJ Hence we are going on an indefinite strike till matter gets under control,” said Javed.
All the suppliers in the Mandi and retailers in the Walled City expressed similar views.
Meanwhile, after the salt chaos on Friday, rumour that the prices of wheat flour (atta) and sugar in the market would surge in the coming days created panic among people on Saturday.
However, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dismissed canard about shortage of salt in the country as “concocted rumours” and stressed adequate quantity is available in every State.
“Some people are spreading irresponsible rumours, like it happened on Friday regarding salt. It is there in adequate quantity in every State,” said Jaitley.
He said that some of these rumours started on day one of the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes.
“These are all concocted rumours,” he said, adding statements like some people were aware of the demonetisation earlier tantamount to “taking liberty with truth”.
The rumour that atta, which is currently Rs23 a kg, would be sold for Rs35 to 40 and sugar at Rs48 as against Rs38-40 at present in the coming days, triggered panic buying in the national Capital.
Residents of Walled City and north-East Delhi were the major victims of the rumour as many were seen buying the essential commodities in bulk. Stocks of the commodities in most shops got over before mid-afternoon.
Ashok Khanna, a resident of Jama Masjid, said that he could not fathom the sudden development and without thinking twice he went to the nearby markets to purchase the essential commodities in bulk.
“The minute I heard the news, I immediately informed my relatives and then rushed to the shops in my locality and bought five kg each of atta and sugar,” said Khanna.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government also appealed to Delhiites not to pay attention to rumours of shortage of salt in the city and said that there is no scarcity of such essential commodity.
The Delhi Government also directed Food and Supplies department and Weights and Measures department to keep tabs on those spreading rumours and selling essential commodity at higher prices.
The Government also directed officials to remain present in their circle and area and send teams in all circles to prevent incident of selling salt at higher prices. The Government has ordered that anyone found selling salt at a higher price printed on the packet, would be prosecuted on the spot.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, teams of food supply officers and sub-divisional magistrates are rounding city’s markets where salt is available in sufficient stock.