Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: 'I don't eat a lot of onion'

With hike in prices of onions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that she doesn't eat much of onion or garlic. Furrmore, she added that she comes from a family where se two vegetables are t regularly used in meals. Sithraman had, however, apprised Parliament that government has taken a host of measures including imports to deal with rising prices of onions. Her remarks on her personal eating habits were followed by interruptions by some opposition members at a time when she was speaking on onion issue.

"I don't eat much of onion-garlic. I come from such a family which doesn't have much to do with onion," she said.

Furrmore, Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised on  government's policy for benefit of onion farmers.

"From 2014, I have been part of some group of ministers which monitors up's and down in onion market. Sometimes when re is a surplus of crop, we have also facilitated by giving support to those people who want to import. I have overnight passed orders for helping with 5 to 7 per cent assistance for exporting", she said.

Finance Minister also remarked  reduction in area of cultivation and production as one of main reasons for increase in price of onions.

READ: Government taking steps to check onion prices: Nirmala Sitharaman

READ: Madhya Pradesh: Rs 30,000 worth of onion crop stolen from farmer's field

Cabinet Secretary reviews situation on soaring onion prices

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday chaired a meeting of Committee of Secretaries to review issue of rising prices of onions across country. In a video conference held with Chief Secretaries of 11 major onion producing states, Gauba was briefed about various steps being taken by States to tackle rising prices of onions. Chief Secretaries from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana participated in video conference.

READ: Onion price reaches Rs 11,000 per quintal mark in Nashik

READ: In heated Ecomy debate, Nirmala Sitharaman fires 'Jija' jibe at Opposition

(With inputs from ANI)