Assam: Pair of Onions now being sold for Rupees 10 in Mangaldoi

Mangaldai, December 5, 2019:

Amid the skyrocketing prices of onions across the country, a strange sight is greeting the people of Mangaldai town in Udalguri district of Assam.

Shoppers, who visited the markets of the semi-urban town, were greeted by the unusual sight of the pairing of onions, which bore the hefty price tag of Rupees 10 per pair. This was indeed a confounding sight for vegetable buyers, as the vegetable is often bought in bulk. However, the rising prices in Mangaldai, and elsewhere, had compelled the buyers to buy the onions in lesser quantities.

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Some of the vendors had a stroke of brilliance, and were soon seen selling off the onions in pairs, costing Rs 10, with the price of a single onion valued at Rs 5.

Sharing a picture of this unusual sight, senior journalist Mukut Raj Sarma, captioned it: "A pair of onions now costs Rs. 10. A scene from the bazaar in Mangaldoi."

It may be mentioned here that the rising prices of onions have metaphorically caused consumers to shed tears, as it is one of the key ingredients used in cooking Indian dishes.

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The BJP government at the Centre has faced much rebuke for their inability to curb the spiraling costs; however, the Finance Ministry remains defiant. Recently, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman landed in the soup for claiming that she is not concerned about the rising prices as her family does not consume a lot of onions or garlic.

Meanwhile, the protests against the price rise of onions have also reached the Northeast. Recently, Assam Congress MLAs staged a protest in the Assembly after they turned up wearing garlands made of onions. Senior Tripura Congress leader Gopal Chandra Roy also created sensation after he came out to address the press wearing a garland made of onions.

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