By IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi’s Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf Sunday alleged that some, including the ruling Congress’ political “rivals”, were trying to create artificial crisis of essential goods in the city.
“There is shortage of essential commodities in the city, but some efforts are being made to create artificial crisis of food items in the market. It is being done in connivance with our rivals,” Yusuf told reporters at his residence here.
His statement comes in the wake of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) criticism that the Sheila Dikshit government was not able to contain the prices of fruits, vegetables and other essential commodities.
Yusuf said the raids against hoarders would continue, and nobody would be spared if found guilty of illegally hoarding the essential goods. The raids were carried out Sunday also.
“Over 250 places have already been raided and as many as 35 first information reports (FIRs) were filed ever since the drive was launched Saturday. The drive will be further intensified,” Yusuf said.
Chief Minister Dikshit Saturday held an informal meeting of the cabinet and reviewed the price situation in the city. It has become an embarrassment for the Congress, which has decided to sell edible oil at Rs.55 to Rs.60 per litre through 25 outlets.
Dikshit, on the sidelines of the inauguration of Dilli Haat at Pitampura in north Delhi Sunday, told reporters that her government was committed to checking any effort from any quarter to create artificial shortage of food in the city.
“The hoarders will not be spared under any circumstances,” she said.
The government has formed some 60 teams to conduct raids at the primary wholesale and retail markets in areas like Chandni Chowk, Lawrence Road, Alipur, Azadpur, Najafgarh, Narela, and Krishna Nagar.
Dikshit recently held a meeting with the chairman of Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board (DAMB) Brahm Yadav and other senior officials to discuss the price situation.
The BJP is, however, not impressed with the government efforts to check price rise.
“It is too late and too little. What the government is doing now is because of our insistence, but such measures will not bring any respite to the people, as these are too late. Things have spiralled out of control,” Delhi BJP chief Harshvardhan told IANS.
“There is an increase of 40 to 50 percent in prices of vegetables, while 100 percent in the case of fruits. The ordinary people cannot have pulses being sold at Rs.50 to Rs.75 per kg,” he added.