Pic: Onion guillotine over Sheila, remembering BJP's ouster in 1998

New Delhi, Oct 24: What goes comes back too. This has been proved this time at least. In 1998, BJP was voted down from the Centre as the Onion prices shot to Rs 60 per kilo. In fact, Sheila Dikhsit came to power riding on public anger over the issue. Now, she is undergoing the same situation.

Worried over the spike in onion prices, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to meet the agricultural minister Sharad Pawar and KV Thomas on the issue.

According to sources, the meeting's agenda would be to focus on ways to increase the supply of onions and control prices in the national capital.

Sheila Dikshit, especially has to worry about the entire situation as onion prices have been high for the past three months and now the retail prices have gone up to Rs 90 per Kg.

Pawar and Thomas are also expected to meet separately on the issue. They would also be accompanied by the finance and the commerce ministers. The agenda again would be to frame measures to ward off the crisis.

Meanwhile, Pawar has asked the state governments to stop hoarding to stabilise the price. IN an interview with the press, Pawar further added that the crisis in onions is due to heavy and untimely rains in onion producing areas. As per him, the prices would remain high for the next few days. He said that he has informed Thomas that National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) may as well import some onions.

"Although India is one of the largest onion producing countries, even greater than Russia, things have changed because of untimely rains. We are not exporting onions right now, given the crisis in the country," he said.

In Ghazipur, New Delhi

A vendor weighing onions at the wholesale vegetable market in Ghazipur, New Delhi on Wednesday. The onion prices have soared to Rs.90 per kg in the national capital.

In Ghazipur, New Delhi

Vendors sorting onions at the wholesale vegetable market in Ghazipur, New Delhi on Wednesday. The onion prices have soared to Rs.90 per kg in the national capital.

In Chikmagalur

A vendor sleeps on onions at a market in Chikmagalur on Wednesday. The onion prices have soared across India.

In Dehradun

A vegetable vendor arranging onions at his shop in Dehradun on Wednesday. Onion price has more than quadrupled from last year to a record 90-100 rupees per kilogram.

In Srinagar

An elderly retail shopkeeper sorting onions at a market on the outskirts of Srinagar on Wednesday. Onion price has more than quadrupled from last year to a record 90-100 rupees per kilogram.

In New Delhi

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, K.V. Thomas and Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at a press conference after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar on issue of soaring onion prices, in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, K.V. Thomas and Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at a press conference after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar on issue of soaring onion prices, in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at a press conference after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar on issue of soaring onion prices, in New Delhi on Thursday.

In New Delhi

Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at a press conference after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar on issue of soaring onion prices, in New Delhi on Thursday.

OneIndia News