Under attack from the Opposition for the soaring potato prices, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Wednesday said that lack of a common national market (CNM) in the country was the reason behind the uneven and increasing prices of vegetables.
Talking to media persons here, Paswan lauded the work done by Prime Minster Narendra Modi during the last six months at the Centre and said that the price rise has touched a record low in the country."The farmers do not have the right to sell their products directly in the market; the problem will persist till a common national market was created," Paswan said.
The price of potato, pegged at Rs 20-25 per kg at present, had touched Rs 30-35 a few days back. The prices had also shot up a few months back after the Mamata Government had put a ban on 'export' of potato to Jharkhand. Assuring that the Centre was doing its best to regularize the prices of vegetables in the country, Paswan appealed to the State Governments to take adequate measures in this regard.
Notably, the Economic Survey this year had recommended introducing a new law to create a national common market for farm products that will override the existing agricultural produce market committees (APMC) and enable the farmers to sell their produce across State borders, preventing price manipulation by trader cartels that have been blamed for rising vegetables prices.
Currently, State APMC Acts control wholesale buying and selling of agricultural produce at designated mandis (markets) within a State. Under the new law that the Economic Survey envisages, APMC's mandis will become one among many trading venues in a competitive market.
Referring to the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring black money deposited in foreign banks back to the country, Paswan advised the people to be patient as results of the efforts being taken by the Centre will definitely be on the ground. "The Government has the policy to bring black money back but the strategy definitely will take its own course," he said.
When asked about the remarks made by the Opposition parties regarding Clean India drive started by Modi, Paswan reacted that holding broom in one's hand has now become a mark of dignity in this country. "Earlier, a broom had been considered to be a job of a particular class, but the initiative taken by Modi has given a moral boost to them," Paswan added.
Sharing his experiences of election meetings at various places in Jharkhand, the Union Minister said, "For the first time, it is being felt by that the people of this State that they are getting freed from the 'hotch-potch' Government." The wave is quite clear; a stable BJP Government is being formed in this state, he said.
"You have put upper clothes by forming a development-oriented Government at the Centre. Now, we also need lower clothes as the same party Government is needed in the State to carry on development work, said Paswan.