The Opposition on June 27 targeted the Centre’s policies as tomato prices doubled in one month across the country. According to the Consumer Affairs Ministry’s Price Monitoring Division, the average national price for a kilogram of tomato was ₹46.1 on Tuesday. One month ago, the rate was ₹23.61. The Centre blamed the delay in rains for the hike and said it would be brought down soon.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies for the price rise. “The Prime Minister had described Tomato, Onion and Potato as ‘TOP’ priority. But because of his wrong policies… first tomatoes get thrown on the road then sold for ₹100 per kg!,” he said. Mahila Congress chief Netta D’Souza said pulses disappeared, flour disappeared, oil disappeared, vegetables also disappeared from the poor’s plate. “Modi ji, you talk big about the economy in foreign countries, but inflation is going out of your control. Nirmala ji, after onions, should we stop eating tomatoes too?” she said.
The price for a kilogram of tomato in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai was ₹60, ₹42, ₹75 and ₹67 respectively, according to the Consumer Affairs Ministry. Ministry’s Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told agencies that it is a temporary issue. “It is a highly perishable commodity. Transportation gets affected in areas that received sudden rains. It is a temporary issue. Prices will cool down soon. It happens every year during this time,” Mr. Singh told PTI.
