The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday demanded an inquiry into the functioning of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), and said that latter's job is to make essential commodities available to people at affordable prices.
"We have tried to make onions available at Rs. 30 per kilogram in fare prices, but the state government has some limits. There is an agency called NAFED. Its job is to make available essential commodities at affordable prices to the people. NAFED, which comes under Central Government, has not tried anything," AAP leader Aashutosh told ANI.
"We have demanded that NAFED's functioning be investigated...Is there any conspiracy behind this?," he added.
The Centre has drawn flak from all the major political parties for sharp rise in onion prices in recent times.
A Consumer Affairs and Food Ministry release said it is keeping a close watch on the rise in prices of onions.
It said the prices of onions have been rising on account of a decline in total production from around 194 lakh tons in 2013-14 to 189 lakh tons in 2014-15 due to adverse weather conditions.