As farmers and traders protested against the Centre's imposition of a 40 per cent export duty on onions, Maharashtra Minister Daga Bhuse said it would have made no difference if they hadn't eaten this essential kitchen staple for two or four months.
Maharashtra Public Works Department minister Dada Bhuse has made a controversial comment on the rise of prices of onions across the country due to the imposition of export duty on the vegetable, he claimed that people who cannot afford it should not consume it till the prices go down.
As farmers and traders protested against the Centre's imposition of a 40 per cent export duty on onions, Maharashtra Minister Daga Bhuse said it would have made no difference if they hadn't eaten this essential kitchen staple for two or four months.
Daga Bhuse told the media, "When you use a vehicle worth Rs 10 lakh, you can buy produce at a higher rate by Rs 10 or Rs 20 than the retail rate. Those who cannot afford to buy onion, it would make no difference if they do not eat it for two-four months."
The Public Works Department minister also said the decision to impose export duty should have been taken with proper coordination.
"Sometimes onion fetches rates of Rs 200 per quintal while some times it attracts Rs 2,000 per quintal. A discussion can be held and an amicable solution can be found," Bhuse reportedly said.
In order to contain price increases and increase supplies in the domestic market, the Union government imposed a 40 % duty on exports of onions on August 19.
The Finance Ministry through a notification imposed the 40 per cent export duty on onions till December 31, 2023.
Earlier on Monday, traders decided to close onion auctions indefinitely in all the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in Nashik, including at Lasalgaon, which is the largest wholesale onion market in India.
The Nashik District Onion Traders Association had given the call to not take part in onion auctions indefinitely till the Centre rolls back its decision, sources said.
Several farmers and traders held protests across the district seeking a rollback of the export duty.