Onion prices may increase further as traders in Azadpur mandi here today called for a strike from tomorrow against tax raids, even as the state government has threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the traders.
The traders at Azadpur, Asia’s biggest vegetable and fruit market, have protested income tax raids, which are being carried out throughout the country to check hoarding.
Onion prices continue to be in the range of Rs 55-60 per kg in retail markets. The government has also asked agri cooperative Nafed to open more outlets to sell onion at a cheaper rate of Rs 35 a kg in Delhi and the NCR.
“Onion traders are feeling harassed by income tax raids and have thus decided to go on strike from tomorrow,” Delhi Agricultural and Marketing Board Chairman Brahm Yadav told