Sheila Dikshit blames media for spreading rumours on price rise

NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday contradicting her earlier statement that the government is making all attempts to bring the prices under control, blamed the media for spreading rumours on the rising prices of onions.

“See I was telling, where are the prices increasing? You (Media) are giving false information on rising prices of onions and potatoes,” Dikshit told reporters at an event here.

Earlier today, she had said that all attempts are being made to bring down the prices.

“I have been informed that onions have arrived in the markets in bulk today. We will continue to rampage at warehouses where onions are being hoarded. I am confident that in one or two days the prices will come down because of steps taken by the central government to stop export of onions and tax on it,” Dikshit told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

The government on Wednesday announced an indefinite ban on exports of onions. Consequently, wholesale prices of onions have begun to fall rapidly and the effect is also beginning to show in the retail market.

With a view to bring down onion prices, which had raced to as much as Rs 85 per kg in some retail markets, the government had on Tuesday removed customs and countervailing duties on onions. The commodity earlier attracted 5 per cent customs duty and 4 per cent countervailing duty.

Onion prices have skyrocketed in recent days as Maharashtra, the main producing centre, saw the crop damaged due to unseasonal rains.

The wholesale onion prices rose 4.56 per cent during the week ended December 11. (ANI)