Dikshit slams Oppositions' 'political gimmicks' on onion issue

As BJP attempts to use rocketing onion prices to its advantage in Delhi election, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today hit out at opposition parties for "politicising" the issue and resorting to "gimmicks" after they started selling the kitchen staple at low rate.

"One political party opened four outlets. Another party which is trying to be a political party opened two outlets. These parties are making political gimmicks to gain political mileage," Dikshit said.

BJP yesterday started selling the kitchen staple at Rs 25 a kg against the market rate of around Rs 80, and had demanded immediate removal of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Harun Yusuf for his "complete failure" to stabilise the rates. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party had also started selling the vegetable in some localities.

The Delhi government is selling onions between Rs 50-55 a kg at over 1,000 points across the city.

Slamming the BJP for "politicising" the issue, Dikshit said her government was doing "everything possible" to stabilise the prices of onion by ensuring its adequate supply in the wholesale vegetable markets.

"We are not selling onions as a political party. We are selling onions at reasonable rates as a duty of the government. We are not politicising the issue. The government is doing everything possible to help people," Dikshit told reporters.

Asked whether she was worried about possible impact of high onion prices in the upcoming assembly polls as BJP was ousted in 1998 following rise in its rate, Dikshit said unlike the then BJP regime, her government was making all required intervention bringing down the price.

"The BJP government was defeated in 1998 due to high onion prices. They (BJP) think it will happen to us. What will happen to us will be known in the election," she said.

"The BJP government fell because it did not try to help the people. It did not make any intervention to stabilise the onion price," the chief minister said.