Siddu urges state for market intervention

BANGALORE: Opposition Congress leader in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah demanded the state government to come to the rescue of Onion growers who were distressed following the crash in onion prices.Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah urged the government for market intervention and start buying onions from the open market at a procurement price of Rs 2,000 per quintal.Following the steep fall in prices, farmers who were already hit by severe drought conditions, have been in distress, he said. Onion prices have fallen to Rs 400 per quintal which is much lesser than the cost of production, he said.“Government should immediately start procurement of onions,” he added. Referring to the impasse created on the appointment of the new Karnataka Lokayukta, the Opposition leader blamed the government for the present status. “It does not augur well for fight against corruption.”Opining that the state government has not consulted the Opposition in shortlisting the name of Justice Bannurmath for the post, the Congress leader said that the Governor can not be blamed for the present fiasco.