Patel to Centre: Wake up on Dal price rise

Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday said the Centre is sleeping over the increasing prices of Dal.

"Government was sleeping while Dal price rose. In March, crop estimate report showed huge decline in Dal production but they waited till Jun to act?," he said in a tweet.

"While price continued to rise, Government wasted a crucial month as it insisted on a particular tendering technique unavailable with agriculture minister," he added.

With retail pulses prices shooting up to Rs 187 per kg, the government on Wednesday said it's trying hard to contain prices by increasing availability via imports and urged consumers to wait for some time to see results.

Retail prices of tur dal yesterday rose up to Rs. 181 per kg as against Rs 85 per kg in the year-ago period, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry.

Similarly, urad dal prices have increased up to Rs 187 per kg from Rs 99 per kg in the said period. Much of the increase was seen in these two dals, while the increase in prices of moong dal and gram were moderate.