Bhubaneswar: As a mark of protest against the state government failure in controlling the rising prices of vegetables, the activists of Odisha Chhatra Congress sold vegetables in front of Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain’s official residence in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
The protestors, led by Chhatra Congress president Yaseer Nawaz raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate steps to bring down the prices of vegetables which have gone beyond affordability of common man.
Students Congress Activists Demonstrate Against Vegetable Prices Near Minister House – YouTube
During their sit-in, the activists of the students wing of the Congress sold vegetables at half the price of the market rate. “Though the vegetable prices have been constantly increasing for the last few days, the government has failed to take any steps to ease the burden of the consumers,” they said.
“We want to draw the attention of the government towards the plight of the people and the farmers. The state doesn’t have adequate cold storage facilities. At least 82 cold stores across the state have become defunct,” Nawaz said.
“It is high time the government should take steps to ensure adequate cold-storages to preserve the vegetables produced by our farmers so that we would not depend on other states. Besides, a robust distribution system for farm produce should be ensured,” he added.