Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the central government has fixed the price of onion at Rs 15 per kg in the face of ongoing intense agitation by farmers demanding fair price of onion in India.
However, even after this pricing, dissatisfaction did not subside. The opposition termed the decision inadequate, while Chief Minister Fadnavis termed the movement by the opposition as ‘politically motivated’ and a ‘photo opportunity’.
At the same time, the Chief Minister announced strict action against fuel price hike and artificial crisis in the wake of the Middle East crisis.
In a press conference organized in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the Mahayuti government led by him is very tolerant towards farmers.
He told reporters, ‘The central government has increased the price of onion by 3.5 rupees per kg to 15 rupees. We have requested an urgent meeting with the central government to find a long-term solution to this problem.’
Criticizing the movement of the opposition camp, the Chief Minister said, ‘Some people are just doing politics and looking for photo opportunities. No one knows what the price of onion was during their own period. It is 100% political movement. Those whose eyes do not shed tears even after cutting onions, are now crying for the farmers.
The opposition criticized the chief minister’s statement. Talking to reporters in Nashik, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that the condition of farmers at the field level is very deplorable.
He said, ‘Farmers have become very angry and emotional. Their eyes were filled with tears while pleading with us. Many farmers have already succumbed to debt without getting the right price for their crops. Many are unable to pay their children’s school fees and even medical expenses.’
In the press conference, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also spoke about the supply situation of petrol and diesel in Maharashtra. The global energy crisis created by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East crisis has had a direct impact on India’s domestic market. In the last two weeks, fuel oil prices in the country have increased by more than Rs 7 per litre.
Due to this price increase, the demand for oil in the local market has suddenly increased dramatically and there are allegations that some unscrupulous traders have started hoarding fuel to create an artificial crisis.
The Chief Minister said that the demand for petrol has increased by 23 percent and the demand for diesel by a record 52 percent over the normal period. In some places, up to 70 percent extra supply than normal has been secured to deal with the crisis.
Fadnavis made it clear that those who are hoarding fuel to create artificial crisis will not be exempted. The state home and supplies department has been directed to take strict legal action against these hoarders.
