CM blames hoarders for price rise of essential commodities

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday ordered an inquiry after visiting three markets here and blamed hoarders for being behind the sudden rise in prices of essential commodities and vegetables.

Warning against hoarding, the chief minister said some unscrupulous traders had deliberately raised prices in last two to three days which would not be tolerated by the government.

Stating that climatic conditions should not be attributed to the price rise, she said "hoarders and unscrupulous traders are to be blamed." She said that the ploy to push up the price of vegetables and commodities had to be investigated. Banerjee also said that farmers had nothing to do with the price rise and her government would always stand behind them to ensure that they received remunerative prices for their produce.

 

The chief minister said that the price rise would be discussed at a meeting on July two.The chief minister said "the price rise is entirely artificial.

"I am warning those who have artificially jacked up prices to ensure supply of essential commodities to the people at the right price," she said. Banerjee said the government would deal firmly with the artificial price rise.