New Delhi, Feb 12 (Inditop.com) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday warned that stern action would be taken against traders who hoard stocks. She made the remarks after inaugurating a new initiative to bring essential commodities from farmers and making them available at fair and affordable prices.
“I am warning hoarders, we will not permit unjustified increase in prices,” the chief minister said after launching “farm gate to home gate” (khet se ghar tak) by the NAFED, a national level farmers’ cooperative.
The chief minister said her government and NAFED would work together to keep prices down.
The function was presided over by Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas and attended by NAFED chairman Bijendar Singh and Managing Director C.V. Ananda Bose.
Speaking at the function, Thomas said the central government would work with the state government to help the common man fight price rise in the country.
The new initiative was launched when India’s annual food inflation based on wholesale prices rose to 17.94 percent for the week ending Jan 30.
As per official data released by the commerce and industry ministry Thursday, the annual rise in the index for food articles was 17.56 percent for the week before.
Prices of essential items continued to rise in the country, with vegetables becoming more expensive by 20.93 percent, potatoes by 40.57 percent, pulses by 41.24 percent and fruits by 8.67 percent during the 52-week period.
