‘Imported onions to reach Tamil Nadu on December 12’

THANJAVUR: Onions imported by the Central government from Turkey and Egypt are expected to arrive in Tamil Nadu on December 12 and 13 (the state's share) and will be supplied to people accordingly, said R. Kamaraj, State Food minister on Sunday.

He told presspersons that already state government started supplying onions through fair price shops from Friday.
When imported onions reach state, things will improve, he said.

Heavy rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka has affected the yield of onions and hence the crisis, the minister explained. Imported onions will be supplied through 6000 fair price shops in the state, the minister said.

He denied that there was confusion in conducting local bodies elections in the state. “Election dates have been announced and elections will be held. Only DMK is afraid of facing local bodies’ elections and is going to court every time to get stay,” the minister said.

VAIKO ON ONIONS:
Meanwhile, MDMK chief and Rajya Sabha MP, Mr. Vaiko said here that “onion prices had brought the fall of governments in the past and this time also it may bring down governments.”

He told presspersons that the price rise of onions this year is unprecedented.

He also alleged that AIADMK was not interested in conducting local bodies elections. “Normally elections should be conducted after delimitation, reservation process is over. The State government is not willing to do it.

The DMK has gone to court only on this issue and elections should be held properly,” Vaiko said, in defence of the DMK.