Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Sakkarapani has threatened to take severe action on small traders and vendors for rise in vegetable prices soared as people flocked to markets ahead of the strict lockdown.
The DMK government on Saturday announced that a strict lockdown would be imposed for a week from May 24 in view of the raging second wave of the Wuhan virus pandemic. It had announced that all shops would be allowed to function till 9 PM on Saturday and from 6 AM to 9 PM on Sunday before the state went under complete lockdown.
This announcement had led to panic buying across the state as people flocked to markets to buy essentials. Heavy crowd with scant regard to COVID appropriate behaviour was observed in grocery stores, vegetable markets, fish markets and even clothing stores.
Due to the sudden demand, vegetable prices soared high. Potato which usually costs ₹20-₹30 was being sold at ₹ 40-50. Beans was being sold at ₹150-₹190 per kilo. Onion which was being sold at just ₹30 per kilo two days ago was being sold at ₹60. In big vegetable shops across the city, the prices were almost four times the usual prices.
In light of this, Minister Sakkarapani has blamed the small traders and vendors for increasing the vegetable prices ‘artificially’ and has threatened to take action on them under Essential Commodities Act.
He said that respective government officials have been asked to inspect and added that the government won’t hesitate in taking severe action against vegetable traders and vendors.
“This is atrocious! They say they want to control corona but announce rules that will only increase the spread of corona. What is the point of making people to flock to markets and panic buy? We have no other option but to increase price when there is a high demand. Why is the government blaming us for their ill-conceived lockdown?”, Murugesan, a small grocery store owner from Vadapalani said.
Another old lady from K.K. Nagar who makes a living by selling vegetables door to door when asked about the Minister’s threat about taking action on small vendors said “Meeting my basic needs is itself a struggle for me every day. Only if I sell vegetables, the stove in my kitchen burns. On one hand, they say they will give ₹4000 but have given only ₹2000 so far. On the other hand, they don’t give any relief for small vendors like me but threaten to take action. I regret voting for them.”
BJP Tamil Nadu Vice President K Annamalai said it is because of the ill-conceived lockdown that people rushed to markets which led to increase in prices. “Though the lockdown is necessary, the ruling DMK government is blaming small time vendors for the rise in prices.”, he said.
மாநிலஅரசு 24 மணிநேரம் பின் பொது முடக்கம் என்று அறிவித்ததால்தான் மக்கள் கூட்டமும், கடைகளில் விலை உயர்வும் நாம் காண்கிறோம். பொது முடக்கம் தேவையென்றாலும், ஆளும் கட்சி மக்களை புரிந்து கொள்ளாமல், சிந்தித்து செயல்படாமல், வணிகர்களை குறை கூறுவதால் என்ன பயன்?
பதறிய காரியம் சிதறும்!
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 23, 2021
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