Don't Eat Tomatoes, Grow Them At Home: Uttar Pradesh Minister's Advise Amid Price Hike

Amid an increase in tomato prices, Uttar Pradesh Minister Pratibha Shukla advised people to stop eating tomatoes now.

"If you stop eating tomatoes, the prices will inevitably come down," the minister was heard saying in a video that has now gone viral on social media.

"People should grow tomatoes at home. You can also eat lemon instead of tomato. If nobody is eating tomatoes, the prices will come down," the minister said.

The UP Minister's statement comes at a time when the tomato prices continue to rise across the country with one kg still above Rs 120.

Stepping up attack on the BJP, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate interpreted the statement as the government's 'acceptance' that there is no way to bring the prices down.

"Jo bhi cheez mehengi hai use khana chod dijiye -- this advice is coming from a minister of Uttar Pradesh. In the race of being indifferent, you have defeated your colleagues, congratulations," Shrinate tweeted.

In 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman draw flack after saying she doesn't eat much of the kitchen staple.

"I don't eat a lot of onions and garlic, so don't worry. I come from a family that doesn't have much to do with onions," Sitharaman said.

Tomato prices to fall: Govt

The central government expects tomato retail prices to decrease with a higher supply of new crops from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey said the recent price increase was influenced by factors such as crop seasonality, the white fly disease in Kolar (Karnataka), immediate monsoon rains affecting crops in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and logistics disruptions due to heavy rains.

Choubey said the average retail price of tomatoes reached Rs 150 per kg in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the week of July 10-16. However, as of July 18, the average retail price in Delhi declined to Rs 130 per kg and Rs 127.70 per kg in Punjab.