‘Artificial’ Potato Scarcity Created To Defame Odisha Govt: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Amid political heat over potato price rise in Odisha, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday alleged that a man-made crisis was deliberately created to defame the BJP government.

Claiming that an artificial scarcity of potato was created in an attempt to corner the state government, the Minister said he has no clue as to why the West Bengal Chief Minister first stopped potato transportation and later agreed to resume supply. “I have no idea as to why she resorted to such politics,” he said.

Stating that the price of potato has already become normal in the market, Patra said it will be further reduced in the coming days and the consumers need not worry.

Maintaining that there is no shortage of potato in the state at present, the Minister said price rise takes place during reduced supply and low availability in the market. “Now, adequate potatoes are available in the market and the price has become almost normal. It will come down further in the coming days,” Patra said.

It may be noted that the Minister had earlier stated that Odisha would not make any request to the West Bengal government for potato.

The statement from the Minister came just two days after the West Bengal government halted all potato exports from its side. The decision had led to several potato-laden trucks being stranded along the West Bengal-Odisha border.