Onion traders go on strike against I-T raids

Disrupting supply to retailer, onion traders in Delhi's Azadpur mandi today 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 Rajendra Sharma. However, according to Brahm Yadav, the chairman of 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," Yadav said. According to 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 strike is yet to be seen in the retail market and the prices continue to rule high at Rs 60 per kg in most parts of Delhi. However in posh colonies prices are hovering around Rs 75 per kg.

When asked, whether the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) would be invoked against traders, Yadav said, we cannot take harsh steps, adding, we are trying to convince the I-T officials to stop the their operations and do surveys after the prices come down.

The national Capital received onion supplies from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The consignments from Maharashtra were disrupted because of traders protest in Nashik, the major onion producing area.