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Disrupting supply to retailer, onion traders in Delhi’s Azadpur mandi on Wednesday went on a strike, protesting against Income Tax (I-T) raids.
“The onion auction did not take place today,” said Tomato and Onion Merchant Association General Secretary, Mr Rajendra Sharma.
However, according to Mr Brahm Yadav, Chairman of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board, “Talks are on with the Delhi Government to resolve the issue.”
“We are trying to resolve the matter and stop the strike in couple of hours,” Mr Yadav said. According to Mr Sharma, no trucks arrived in Azadpur market today, Asia’s largest wholesale vegetable and fruits market.
On an average, the mandi receives 800-1,000 tonnes of the commodity daily. Impact of the strike is yet to be seen in the retail market and prices continue to rule high at Rs 60 a kg in most parts of Delhi. However, in posh colonies prices are hovering around Rs 75 a kg.
When asked, whether the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) would be invoked against traders, Mr Yadav said, “we cannot take harsh steps, adding, we are trying to convince I-T officials to stop the their operations and do surveys after the prices come down.”
The national Capital receives onion supplies from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Consignments from Maharashtra were disrupted because of traders protest in Nashik, a major onion producing area.
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