Deploring the decision of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeee to ban export of potato and other vegetables to neighbouring states including Jharkhand, AJSU Party and a traders' body today said they would block all Bengal-bound goods if supply of potoato was not restored soon.
Led by AJSU Party secretary, Babbar Khan, hundreds of party activists today set ablaze an effigy of Banerjee at the Mango Chowk here to protest the decision of West Bengal government, which had resulted in sharp increase in the prices of potato as well as other green vegetables.
Addressing the gathering, Khan alleged the Centre as well as the Jharkhand government were indirectly supporting Banerjee by not taking up the issue with her.
The decision of the West Bengal government to ban export of potato to its neighbouring states including Jharkhand and Odisha was whimsical and deplorable, Khan, who is also the party spokesman, said.
"We will be forced to stop all Bengal-bound goods including raw materials, if no action was taken to restore supply of vegetables including potato within two days, he said.
Meanwhile, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) president, Suresh Sonthalia sent a letter to his West Bengal counterpart appealing him to take up the issue with the West Bengal government and to normalise the supply of vegetables from Bengal to Jharkhand.
The West Bengal government should have allowed transportation of surplus vegetables including potato to Jharkhand, where the supply-demand gap had widen following the decision of the Trinamool Congress government, he said, threatening to prevent all Bengal-bound goods if situation was not improved soon.
SCCI had earlier written to the Jharkhand Chief Minister in this regard but in vain so far, he added.
