Bhubaneswar: Activists of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged a demonstration outside the official residence of Odisha’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak in Bhuabaneswar to protest the rise in prices of vegetables.
The protesters, wearing garlands made from green vegetables to vent their anger over the skyrocketing prices, also hurled tomatoes and lady fingers at the residence of the Minister.
Stating that the prices of almost all the vegetables including tomatoes and beans have crossed the Rs 100 mark in Odisha, the demonstrators said the common people are hit hard due to the exorbitant price of vegetables.
Traders are now selling vegetables like brinjal, lady finger, pointed gourd and ridge gourd at prices ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kg, they said, adding that the price of green chilli has reached Rs 300 per kg in the state..
As the protesters tried to enter the Minister’s house, a scuffle broke out with police personnel deployed at the site.
The protesters also burnt the photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue.
Stating that the state government should take immediate steps to control the price rise, they said cold storages should be constructed in every block of the state.