Rajasthan's commodity markets observe strike

Almost all commodity markets, dal mills and oil mills remained closed in Rajasthan on Tuesday in support of a strike call given by the Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh against a government notification imposing stock limit on oil, oilseeds and pulses.

The government on Monday had imposed a stock limit on mustard, taramira, rapeseed, toria and raida oilseeds. A wholesaler has been allowed to keep stock of 1,000 quintals while a retailer can keep a stock of 100 quintals.

Similarly for mustard, rapeseed, raida and toria oils, stock limit is 100 quintals and 10 quintals, respectively, for wholesalers and retailers.

A stock limit was imposed on pulses in October.

"All 247 mandis (commodity markets) and dal and oil mills were shut down today (Tuesday). We will observe a similar strike tomorrow (Wednesday) and have called for a meeting of traders tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon to decide on the future course of action," Babulal Gupta, president of the Sangh, told IANS.

He asked the government to withdraw the orders with immediate effect.

According to traders, business of almost Rs.1,700 crore was affected due to the strike and the state exchequer suffered a loss of Rs.78 crore.