Minister visits onion market, gets notice on poll code violation
JAMSHEDPUR: East Singhbhum district administration served a notice to Jharkhand food supply minister Saryu Rai for possible violation of model election code of conduct after he visited Parsudih Krishi Utpadan Bazar Samiti (PKUBS) Mandi here, officials said on Friday.
“We have sent a notice to state minister Saryu Rai for possible violation of poll code of conduct. He had gone to PKUBS Mandi on Wednesday. We have sought to know from him if this visit was governmental or political. We will take action as per rules after we receive his reply,” Chandan Kumar, Dhalbhum SDO-cum-chairman, PKUBS, told media today. Rai has been given 24 hours to respond to the notice.
Sources close to the minster told HT that Rai didn’t go to the Mandi on his ministerial vehicle nor there was any BJP flag attached to his personal vehicle during the visit.
Meanwhile, onion prices have started falling across the state with wholesale prices veering in the range of minimum Rs 4,500 per quintal in Pakur to maximum Rs 7,500 per quintal in Daltongunj on Friday. In Jamshedpur, onions were being sold at Rs 5600 per quintal and at Rs 60-65 per kg today. In Ranchi, it was trading at Rs 5,000 per quintal in Mandi while at Rs 60 per kg in retail markets.
In Dhanbad and Bokaro, the wholesale price and retail price was Rs 55 and Rs 65 per kg respectively whereas it was Rs 80 per kg in Daltongunj and Rs 50 per kg in Pakur.
In Sahengunj and Baharwa,the retail prices are Rs 80 per kg though the wholesale price at both Mandis were Rs 70 per Kg today.
As per food department records, the state had a total onion stock of 6175 quintals on Friday with Ranchi having highest stock of 2100 quintals, Jamshedpur 1387 quintals and Latehar and Barharwa having the lowest stock of 6 and 15 quintals respectively.