The AAM Admi Party Nagpur volunteers held a demonstration protesting rising dal prices at Jhansi Rani square late yesterday evening. It evoked a good response and over 100 people took part in the agitation. This was led by AAP leaders such as Devendra Wankhede, Ashok Mishra and Shalini Arora.
The AAP contends that dal prices hit the roof mainly because of hoarding by big players and speculations. About four months ago, the Central Government removed limits on hoarding limits of food grains including dals on pressure from big Corporate players who have entered Food retail business like Ambanis, Adanis and Food Bazar. These companies could foresee the coming shortage, due to droughts in dal growing areas like Marathwada and Karnataka, and knew they could make a killing.
According to information gathered by NT from mofussil farmers who still grow dal along with cotton and soyabean, post harvest dal was aquired from farmers at an average price of Rs. 55/ per Kg last year in the months of November, December and January. For farmers who had some remaining stocks, the price went upto Rs. 100 by July. Till August end dal stocks were being picked up from small traders and some farmers at Rs. 120 even. It still worked out for Retailers because as on 27th October ( today) at Reliance Super market Tur dal is selling at the price range of Rs. 175/ (for lose dal) and Rs. 236/ for packaged dal.
