Potato Heat In Odisha Assembly As BJD Targets Minister Over Price Rise

Bhubaneswar: Despite the arrival of 300 trucks with fresh stock of potatoes from Uttar Pradesh amid rising prices, the issue related to reported shortage of the tuber rocked the Odisha Assembly on Monday.
Raising the issue during the question hour in the House, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government accusing it of having failed to resolve the potato crisis in the state.
Targeting the state government, BJD MLAs were seen displaying posters and creating a ruckus in the House. The opposition legislators targeted Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra accusing him of being unable to deal with the situation properly.
Claiming that potato price in the state has gone out of control, the protesting BJD members sought to know as to why the ‘double-engine’ government was unable to ensure adequate supply of the tuber for the consumers.
They alleged that consumers are made to suffer as the government is misleading people over the potato issue.
Meanwhile, 300 truck-loads of potatoes arrived in the state at a time when the price of the tuber touched Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg in the market.
Minister Patra said traders have been asked to ensure that potato is not sold more than Rs 40 per kg. Action will be taken against those found selling potato at higher prices, he said.