Bhubaneswar: The recent potato crisis in Odisha has sparked a political controversy, with food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra alleging that the crisis was ‘man-made’ and deliberately orchestrated to create unrest. Speaking to media persons on Thursday, Patra said certain groups intentionally disrupted the supply chain, leading to panic among consumers.
“The state govt ensured an adequate stock of potatoes to meet the demand. The artificial scarcity of potatoes was made to blemish the govt. I am clueless about the politics behind why West Bengal CM (Mamata Banerjee) refused to stop the supply of potatoes in the first place and later agreed to restore the supply of the essential kitchen item. However, vested interests manipulated the distribution network to cause an artificial scarcity,” Patra added, warning of strict action against those involved.
The minister said Odisha has adequate potatoes to cater to the requirement and prices have stabilised in the market.
Opposition BJD criticised Patra for irresponsible comments during the potato crisis and said the govt failed to manage it. “It seems the minister’s potato hangover has not gone yet. No other minister has given such cheap statements like him on the crisis. His statement that artificial scarcity of potatoes has been created for political gain is condemnable. He is trying to hide his inefficiency by giving this kind of statement,” BJD leader Goutam Buddha Das said.