EC bans sale of onions at discounted price in Jharkhand

Ranchi, November 29: In Jharkhand, the Election Commission has banned the sale of onions at a discounted prices by NAFED and BISCOMAUN after receiving a complaint from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, JMM. The party in its complaint had said that selling onions at a cheap rate is a violation of the model code of conduct.

 

Jharkhand Chief Election Officer Vinay Kumar Choubey said show-cause notice has been given to NAFED and BISCOMAN in this regard. Agencies have been asked to reply about who will bear the cost of the subsidy.

A joint investigation by Assistant District Supply Officer and Block Supply Officer, Bedo stated that no political party was found involved in this sale. But in view of the Election Model Code of Conduct applicable in the state, the Election Commission has banned the sale of cheap onions in the entire state. Also, the show-cause notice has been issued to the MD of NAFED, on whose instructions the sale of cheap onions were being done.

Following the order of the Election Commission, a team led by Sadar SDO Lokesh Mishra in Ranchi sealed Biscoman's Raatu warehouse at 9 pm on Wednesday. About 30 tonnes of onions and 12 carts kept in the godown have been seized. According to Biscoman's regional preferred manager AP Singh, 192 tonnes of onions had arrived in this warehouse, of which more than 150 tonnes were sold. The district administration has set a stock limit of 50 tonnes of onion wholesalers and 10 tonnes of retail.