Potato Crisis: Odisha Outfits Retaliate, Stop Bengal-Bound Vehicles Carrying Food Items

Bhubaneswar: In retaliation to halt of potato supply to Odisha by West Bengal, several social organisations stopped vehicles laden with food items proceeding to the neighbouring state on Friday.

According to sources, a large number of protestors staged a demonstration and stopped all the vehicles carrying food items to West Bengal on National Highway No.16 near Manguli Chhak in Cuttack district.

As the protesters carrying banners and placards gathered in large numbers along the highway, hundreds of Bengal-bound vehicles with food article were halted.

The protest comes in the wake of potato price getting doubled in Odisha market due to short supply of the tuber from West Bengal following restriction imposed by the neighbouring state.

Potato virtually disappeared from several markets in the state, leading to soaring price. Traders alleged that West Bengal government is not allowing potato-laden vehicles to proceed to Odisha.

They further claimed that police personnel in Bengal are chasing and seizing trucks carrying potato and heading towards Odisha.

Protesters lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not allowing procurement of potato from the state without any reason, causing crisis in Odisha. Despite requests from the Odisha Chief Minister, Mamata is yet to facilitate the movement of potato from her state, they claimed.

They further stated that the protest will continue till Mamata allows the movement of potato to Odisha.