Mamata seeks PM's intervention to control prices of essential commodities, asks for restoring states' power

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently intervene to control hoarding, increase supply and to bring down skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

Banerjee, who is among most vocal critics of BJP-led government at Centre, also urged prime minister to restore states' power to control prices of essential food items, like potato and onion which was "usurped" following amendments in Essential Commodities Act.

"In view of seriousness of matter, I would urge Central Government to urgently step in to control hoarding, to increase supply and to bring down rising prices of essential commodities, as public is facing acute crisis. Orwise, power of state governments be restored for exercising control over production, supply, distribution and sale of agricultural commodities," she wrote in her four-p missive to prime minister.

Banerjee also urged Modi to permit states "to bring about an appropriate legislation in this regard".

Referring to Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020, Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020, letter said "We (state governments) had raised our serious concerns that se enactments were hurriedly made without adequate thought process or discussion and consultation with states.

" adverse impact of se new Central Acts upon farmers and consumers in terms of availability and prices of essential agricultural commodities is already visible w, as se Acts are against interests of farmers and consumers," Banerjee wrote.

Trinamool Congress supremo also mentioned that amendments in Essential Commodities Act have removed cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions and potatoes from list of essential commodities. se were "seriously encouraging hoarders in hoarding" reby resulting into price rise and consequent sufferings to consumers and common people.

"Moreover, amendments, have effectively usurped powers of state government in facilitating supply-chain disruptions putting common people to huge discomfort. Only central government has power to regulate se agri-products," she wrote to PM.

Banerjee referred to a similar situation in 2014-15 and said it was effectively control using authority n vested upon state governments under Essential Commodities Act.

"It is unfortunate that without proper planning and developing mechanisms to control hoarding and profiteering, power of state has been bulldozed," she said.

"Keeping in view gravity of situation, I would seek your kind and urgent intervention, as state governments being w devoid of its powers cant be expected to remain silent spectator to ongoing sufferings of common people due to extraordinary price rise of potato and onion-like essential commodities," she wrote.

Banerjee had last week expressed similar concerns over steep rise of essential commodities and said that she would be writing to prime Minister to ensure that people could buy essential foodstuff y need.

She had termed Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act in which potatoes and onions were removed from list of key food commodities as "anti-people".

Chief Minister had said that price of potatoes and onions are rising at a time when people have lost ir jobs due to ecomic slowdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Parliament had on September 23 passed Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill to remove cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes from list of essential commodities. 

(Photo: PTI)