Protesting price rise, NSUI activists hurl tomatoes at Odisha minister’s house

Bhubaneswar: Activists of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) today hurled tomatoes and lady’s fingers at the official residence of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak here to protest the rise in prices of vegetables in Odisha.

The NSUI activists held a demonstration in front of Nayak’s official residence by wearing garlands made from green vegetables to vent their anger over the skyrocketing prices.

The agitators alleged that the prices of most of the vegetables including tomatoes and beans have crossed the Rs 100 mark in Odisha. Greengrocers are now selling vegetables like brinjal, lady’s finger, pointed gourd and ridge gourd at prices ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 100 per kilogram, they claimed.

“The price of green chilli has reached Rs 300 per kg. This is a cruel joke on the ordinary consumers,” said an NSUI activist.

The agitators scuffled with police personnel while trying to enter into the minister’s house.

They also burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue.

“The state government should take immediate steps to arrest the price rise. It should build cold storages at each block in the state to check rise in prices of vegetables,” added the NSUI activist.