With reference to the report, "Rising prices make pulses political hot potato" (October 21), the skyrocketing prices of pulses, arguably one of the main food items in every household in India, have made inroads into the Assembly elections arena in Bihar with a verbal duel between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and ministers of the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre. One can only imagine what the fallout of this fight would be.
The fact that the Centre, with the help of some state governments, seized around 5,800 tonnes of pulses during raids on the premises of some unscrupulous traders in those states indicates the gravity of the situation. But it is beyond reasonable comprehension that an overall domestic shortage of about 2 million tonnes of pulses can be compensated by augmenting domestic supplies with meagre quantities of imports, as is being attempted now.
Despite the efforts of the government, retail prices of tur dal have soared to Rs 210 a kg from Rs 85 a kg a year ago; urad dal is not far behind at Rs 198 a kg. Prices of other dals such as moong, masur and gram have also headed north.
There are disturbing reports of protests against the government's move to raid stockists and several traders; in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh processors have shut shop for an indefinite period. Importers in Maharashtra have threatened to cancel import contracts of pulses. This kind of blackmailing should not be tolerated.
A weak monsoon led to a sharp fall in domestic production of pulses and to make matters worse, imported stocks of pulses were not available readily. These factors did push up prices of pulses and astute planning and well-targeted pre-emptive action by the government could have saved the day.
S Kumar, New Delhi
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