Assuring a substantial fall in onion prices from Monday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said her Government would resume mobile vans selling onions at Rs 55/kg after the Election Commission granted permission for the same on Friday.
She said 25 mobile vans have been deployed for the purpose, and people will be able to buy up to 100 kg in one go. “Onion prices will see a fall in the next 2 to 3 days as arrival of onions from various onion-producing States has improved. Meeting Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Union Food Minister KV Thomas turned out to be fruitful,” Dikshit told the media on Saturday.
A worried Dikshit said that her Government has taken a slew of measures to tackle the crisis. A team will go to Alwar in Rajasthan to procure onions in bulk. Asked whether export of onion should be banned, Dikshit said if such a step helps easing the price situation, then the Centre should consider it.
“I think Food Ministry is thinking of banning export of onions. I cannot say with certainty, but I guess it should be banned, if it helps stabilise the market,” she said. Onion is available between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per kg in most of the retail markets in the city.
On overall increase in prices of vegetable and fruits, Dikshit said the rates usually go up this time of the season and claimed that the prices will come down soon. “We are moving from summer to winter vegetables. So there will be some alterations in prices of vegetables,” she said. She also rejected comparison between high onion prices in 1998 and now. The BJP in 1998 Assembly had lost power and its defeat is attributed to high onion prices. Food and Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf said 1,600 tonnes of onion arrived in Delhi on Saturday from various onion producing States.
It may be noted that the Election Commission of India had on Friday allowed the Delhi Government to facilitate sale of onion in the Capital at cheaper prices. Dikshit said the Government would also ask the traders to reduce their margin on sale of onions so as to offer relief to the consumers. With the model code of conduct in force, the Delhi Government had written to the Election Commission for permission to sell onions at cheaper rates.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders have also written to the Election Commission seeking permission to sell onions. BJP’s national executive member RP Singh sought permission to purchase onions in large quantity from the wholesale market and sell them to the people directly without making any profit so that people of Delhi may get some relief.