Shiv Sena demands onion price regulation

Rising onion prices have raised concern and Shiv Sena has demanded that the commodity be made available at Rs 13 per kg in the retail market. Onion is already selling at Rs 25 per kg and is likely to touch Rs 30 soon.

Addressing a press conference, Kanhyalal Gidwani, MLC and conveyor of the party's cell on essential commodities, said, "Last month, when onion prices started climbing, the government announced that it will make onion available through co-operative stores such as Apna Bazar at Rs 13 per kg, but the government never kept its promise. The government is still not making efforts to ensure that consumers get onions at reasonable prices."

He alleged that under the pretext of untimely rains damaging onion crop, artificial shortage has been created in the market. Onion has already become costlier than sugar as sugar is available at around Rs 22 per kg.

While onion consumption in the city is around 100-120 truckloads per day, only 30-40 truckloads are reaching the markets in the city, he pointed out.

He also demanded that the government should ban onion exports and take all necessary steps to ensure that consumers get onion at reasonable price.

He said, "A party delegation led by working president Uddhav Thackeray in a scheduled meeting with chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Friday regarding demands of sugarcane growers will also raise the onion issue."