Potato has started haunting the State Government once again after price of the vegetable soared as it did couple of months back. The reason as claimed, though unconfirmed, is moratorium on supply of the staple food by West Bengal government that can have grave political consequences for the government in Jharkhand.
The wholesale rate of the potato, which comes in two variants-plain and red, has gone up in the range of Rs 4 to Rs 5 per kg. In retail market the plain variant is being sold at Rs 20 and the red one at Rs 30 per kilo.However, with every movement in the price the opposition is inching closer to choke the State government with embarrassing questions and accusations of being too submissive to the neighbouring State. Principal opposition party in Jharkhand Assembly, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), accused the State government of creating artificial problems of essential commodities like potato and sitting on fence against the decision of the West Bengal government. The party has labeled the decision of not allowing trucks loaded with potatoes to cross into Jharkhand as "impractical and anti-people".
The party asked the JMM-Cong-RJD coalition government to intervene in the matter with immediate effect and also take pre-emptive measures to prevent middlemen from using the situation to their advantage."Sale of consumer goods by one state to other is a normal process of marketing. It creates a balance on one hand and is also beneficial for agriculture. If these steps (stopping supply) are encouraged then it will affect normal life in a negative way," maintained former Chief Minister and leader of Opposition, Arjun Munda.
Politics is getting intensified with the local unit of Trinamool Congress (TMC) blaming the State government for being myopic about price control policies and allowing the situation to snowball into a controversy. Also, the party, which is now led by Mandar MlA Bandhu Tirkey, challenged the government of taking as tough a measure as taken by the TMC ruled government of West Bengal and learn the art of fulfilling aspirations of the people of the State. The party, which is jostling to get space in the political landscape of Jharkhand, endorsed the decision of the West Bengal government. The TMC ruled out impact of potato politics on the party's prospect in Assembly Elections.
"She is protecting rights of her people. What is wrong in thisIJ This government did not regulate the movement of its potatoes and that is the reason we are facing this situation. They (State government) talk about bringing headquarters of coal companies in Jharkhand. Why don't they stop coal (to bring coal companies' headquarter in Jharkhand)IJ This government has failed in protecting rights of the people of the State so they have no right to question other states," fumed Tirkey.