Devbrat Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: After prices of onions shot up to Rs 100 per kilogram in several places, the Congress workers today launched a unique protest against the unprecedented price rise and set up counters outside party office in Bhubaneswar where they sold onions at a much cheaper rate in comparison to the market price.

The Master Canteen Square witnessed heavy rush today as consumers came in large numbers to buy onions at Rs 40 per kg. But one person was allowed to take only 250 grams.

Reportedly, the protest was initiated under the leadership of Congress district president of Bhubaneswar, Manas Choudhury to mortify both the Central and State government for allegedly failing to control the prices of the essential commodity.

Targeting BJP-led Centre and BJD-led Odisha government, Manas Choudhury said, "The rising price of onion has affected people in a big way. The government is not willing to listen to the pleas of the common man and labourers among whom many consume raw onion with Pakhala (water rice). That is why we decided to buy onions and sell them at a reasonable rate. The government needs to wake up at least now."

Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik said that the country is being run by a government which only knows to lay out promises but fails to keep it.

Responding to Congress' protest,  Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said, "The Congress' protest may be unique but they have not given any permanent solution."

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