Thomas-Pawar discuss skyrocketing onion prices

Delhi CM to meet both later today

Food minister K V Thomas is in a meeting with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to discuss the skyrocketing onion prices. Separately, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit is scheduled to meet them later today to discuss the politically senstive issue in poll-bound Delhi.

Thomas is also likely to meet commerce minister Anand Sharma over the matter today itself.

The government had yesterday floated a tender to import onions from Pakistan, China, Iran and Egypt to check spiraling prices.

Onion prices in the national capital have surged for the last three months on supply crunch due to unseasonal rains in producing areas. Retail prices have gone up to as high as Rs 90 per kg now.

Agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna will meet food officials from states tomorrow to devise ways to bring down onion prices.

Pawar had yesterday indicated that onion prices might remain high for 2-3 weeks, and asked states to crack down on hoarders to help tame the rates.

Onion is a politically sensitive commodity in the country. In 1998, the BJP government was voted out of power in Delhi due to increase in onion prices to Rs 60 per kg. The Congress formed the government under Dikshit three times since then.

Quite ironically, she is now facing the similar challenge just over a month ahead of polls, which will be held on December 4.