"We fear a sharp increase in grain and dal prices in the coming days because there is no stock," Delhi Grain Merchant Association President OP Jain said in a statement today.
The scarcity, albeit artificial, is a result of 11 foodgrain traders associations deciding not to buy fresh stocks outside of the national capital following continuing raids on traders' stock, it said.
"We cannot be blamed for expected scarcity and sharp increase in prices of foodgrain products in the coming days as the Delhi government does not want us to keep food stocks," Dal and Besan Miller Association President Ashok Gupta said.
Due to constant raids against hoarders, Delhi grain merchants have almost finished off their stocks and have not ordered fresh stocks fearing unnecessary harassment by the government and raids on their stocks, he explained.
"We are going by the whims of the Delhi government and cannot be blamed for future price hike or problems, we want to stay away from any controversy and blame-games," he noted.
The Delhi government began raids on traders